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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "United Bank For Africa" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mike.privatezbg@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2011 21:09:52 -0500
Subject: Did you instruct Mrs. Jane O'Dannel to collect your ATM CARD
ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT
United Bank For Africa
Abuja, Nigeria
www.ubagroup.com
+234 802 583 2037
Attention: Beneficiary
Re: Very Urgent
Accredited ATM card (UBA/HS/0147/CN) awarded for contract payment of USD$4.550 Million Usd with card number:3478763199030014 has been allocated in your favor. Did you instruct Mrs. Jane O'Dannel to collect your ATM CARD worth USD$4.550 million on your behalf? Get back to me immediately you receive this message for confirmation and immediate action, i advice that you call +234 802 583 2037 or send a text message.Include your Full Names: Residential Address: Direct Phone Number#:
Yours Faithfully
Mr. Michael Numa
ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT
United Bank For Africa
Abuja, Nigeria
www.ubagroup.com
+234 802 583 2037
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Anti-fraud resources:
