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:

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:
- "card center will send you an atm card" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- ",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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
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.
- +22998582907 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- customercaremailbo@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.Wagner Elizabeth" <wagnerelizabethxaz@peoplepc.com>
Reply-To: "Mrs.Wagner Elizabeth" <customercaremailbo@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2013 01:29:48 -0800 (GMT-08:00)
Subject: CONTACT UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA( UBA)CODE 0458) FOR YOUR VISA CARD
PAYMENT.

Hello Dear,

How are you today? Hope this meets you in Good health? Merry Christmas And Happy New Year In Advance...

I have been out of contact for some almost two months now without delay I want to inform fully the outcome of my personal visit to DHL EXPRESS BOARD BENIN this morning. First, I was requested to pay the sum of $520, 00 USD for requirement of the Package/fund and payment through ATM CARD which has already issued out in total sum of $1,500,000.00 in your name yesterday the 23rd Dec, 2013,

This is to notify you that we have arranged your payment of $1.5 Million USD through swift card payment centre Asia pacific, this card center will send you an ATM card which you will use to withdraw your money in any ATM machine in any part of the world at the maximum rate of $10,000.00 us dollars (Ten Thousand United State Dollars) per day.

Therefore do not hesitate to contact UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA (UBA) and also re-confirm the following information as listed below:

1. YOUR FULL NAME:
2. YOUR HOME ADDRESS:
3. YOUR DIRECT CELL NUMBER:
4. A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE:
5. YOUR COUNTRY:
6. AGE AND GENDER:
7. OCCUPATION:

Forward the above information to:Mr. Eziagulu Aguleri (Director of Customer care Division UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA .Direct line: +229 9858 2907)
E-mail:( customercaremailbo@gmail.com )

The Bank has been mandated to issue out your payment and you have to stop any further communication with any other person(s) or office(s) to avoid any hitches in receiving your ATM Card.

Note that because of impostors, The Bank also issued you their code of conduct, which is (0458) so you have to indicate this code when contacting the ATM card center by using it as your subject.

Thanks
Yours Faithfully
Mrs. Wagner Elizabeth

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam