419 scam: "From prince ugo"<upprince2222@yahoo.nl> YOUR LAST NAME FOR THIS URGENT

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "huge deposit" (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)
- "million dollars" (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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- uprince1@rediffmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "From prince ugo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <uprince1@rediffmail.com>
Date: Sun, 8 Jul 2012 04:50:59 -0700
Subject: YOUR LAST NAME FOR THIS URGENT

BARRISTER PRINCE UGO & CO CHAMBERS
SOLICITORS AND ADVOCATES
87 FALOMO STREET
LAGOS

Dear,

I am barrister prince ugo a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to Mr Martin,a national of your country, who used to work with shell development company in Nigeria and as well a one time secret agent in transferring of money overseas Before his death On the 21st of April 2007 {my client, his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident along Badagry Express Road in which all occupants of the motor died}.

My client deposited the sum of ($36 Million) in a one of our local Bank here in Nigeria for himself, with the hope of transferring it to his country as soon as he is on leave. Since his death I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged.

Particularly, the local Bank where the deceased had an account valued at about $36 million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next ten official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 4 years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased,so that the proceeds of this account valued at $36 million dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money.

60% to me and 40% to you. I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see that this dealt through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Please get in touch with me by my email to enable us discuss further. Therefore to enable the immediate transfer of this fund to you as arranged,you must apply first to the bank as relation or next of kin of the deceased, following my directions upon due clarification on the approach towards achieving this goal.

Upon receipt of your reply, I will send to you by fax or email the text of the application.Thanks and God bless you, await your response at uprince1@rediffmail.com

Best regards,
Barrister Prince Ugo

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam