419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "transfer of your funds" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- ",500,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "my direct telephone number" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "unbplc@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- +2340753380581

Fraud email example:

From: "Union Bank of Nigeria" <info@unionbank.com>
Reply-To: unbplc@live.com
Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2011 22:36:03 -0500
Subject: Inheritance Fund Release""""Your bank account details required for
immediate transfer !!!!

Payment Purpose: Inheritance Fund Release
Payment Value: $5,500,000.00 dollars
Authorized Paying Bank: Union Bank of Nigeria
Transaction Reference Code: UBN/KTT/27890/0000/010

Dear Beneficiary,

My name is DR. JOHN EZE. I am the newly appointed Director Union Bank Of
Nigeria and the 10th Director of the Union Bank of Nigeria.I assumed duty
as Director, Union Bank of Nigeria on June 4, 2010 at the Bank's Corporate
Head Office in Abuja following the confirmation of my nomination by the
Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Wednesday, June 3, 2010.

However, acting in my capacity as the newly-appointed Director of the
(UBN),I have been mandated by the Senate National Assembly to check
through the statutory disk of every payment pending during the last
quarter of the year.Hence, your payment file has been forwarded to my desk
for final approval.

Therefore, after vetting and verification about the source and origin of
your funds, I am convinced 100% that the $5,500,000.00 dollars part
payment is a legitimate contract/inheritance claim. Hence, I have granted
approval for the release of the $5,500,000.00 dollars in your favor.

For this reason, your payment has been rightfully approved and will be
paid out directly into your bank account via "automatic swift transfer"
from our Electronic transfer unit. Already,all transfer processing has
been concluded in line with the new (UBN) Payment Policy.

However, on the note of receiving your inheritance funds, you are
requested to forward the details of your receiving bank account; You are
to send us your bank account details for immediate wire transfer of your
funds. Your bank details should include:

ACCOUNT NAME:
ACCOUNT NUMBER:
BANK NAME:
BANK ADDRESS:
MOBILE/TEL:
NAME OF NEXT OF KIN:
ADDRESS OF NEXT OF KIN:

You are to forward the required information above and other available bank
account information like your PAN number to me via the contact information
below. Please call me immediately for more details.

Contact..
Name: Mr John Eze.
E-mail:unbplc@live.com
Telephone:.... +234 0753 380 581.

I am expecting to receive your earliest reply and details of your
receiving bank account as well as a copy of any of your available ID proof
(National ID card,Voter's ID, Driver's license, PAN card or any recognized
company/working ID card) for identification. Your fund will be transferred
to your bank account details provided within 2 hours after we receive it.
You can call me for updates, My direct telephone number is +234 0753 380
725.

Yours Sincerely,
DR. JOHN EZE
Director Union Bank Of Nigeria.

P.S: Please note that all other authorities handling your payment has been
stopped by the FBI. Hence, the (UBN) has been appointed as the sole
authority in-charge of your fund release.Therefore, you are advised to
stop further communication with any other office or financial institution
handling your payment.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam