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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:
- 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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "western union" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "million united states 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)
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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.
- 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.
- ubabank274@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: DAVID MARK <davidmike244@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ubabank274@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2014 17:44:11 +0200
Subject: Governor for United Bank for Africa- UBA/ World Bank
U.S Treasury Department's Office/ World Bank Payment
(OFAC)U.S Treasury Department's
UBA Bank New York, USA
Date: 22th-04-2014
Attn: Dear Sir/Madam.
RE: INSTRUCTIONS TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF US$10. 5Million:
We at United Bank for Africa wish to congratulate you and inform you
today that after through review of 2014 Inheritance/Contract funds
transfer release documents in conjunction with the World Bank of
Africa (UBA) and the Western Union Ministry of Finance Benin's
assessment report, your payment file was forwarded to us for immediate
transfer a part-payment of $10.5Million United States Dollars to your
designated bank account from online world bank offshore account with our bank.
The Auditor's reports forwarded to us shown that you have been going
through hard times by paying a lot of money to see to the release of
your funds, which has been delayed by some dubious officials. We
therefore advice that you stop further communication with any
correspondence outside this office since you do not have to pay any
money or fee to receive your funds as you have met up with the whole
funds transfer requirements.
The only thing required from you is to obtain NON-RESIDENT CLEARANCE
CERTIFICATE with Insurance Company Benin which will cost you $57usd
only.
We will help you to see that you obtain the mandatory Non-Resident
Clearance Certificate upon you send the payment of document fees to
enable us credit your account directly by telegraphic transfer or
through any of our corresponding banks in your country and send copies
of the funds transfer release documents to you and your bankers for
confirmation.
Should you follow our directives?
Be 100% guarantee that your funds of total TEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND STATED STATES DOLLARS will be credited and confirm into your
bank account within Two (2) bank working days from the day you obtain
this Non-Residential Clearance Form with Benin Government.
Therefore, for further details and assistance on this Remittance
Notice, kindly forward to us the following information listed below
mail to enable easier crediting into bank account as instructed by
Ecowas / World Bank in your name.
1.Your Full Name:
2.Your Full Address:
3.Your Account Name:
4.Your Bank Name :
5.Your Bank Address:
6.Your Account Number:
7.Your Direct/Cell Telephone Number:
8.Your Current Occupation:
9.A Copy of Your Picture or ID:
10. Your Current Email
So we looking forward to receive the above needed information to able
UBA Groups speed action on this operation. and for more information,
call on +229 98436119 to speak with CEO for United Bank for Africa
Unit. Our Email ID:(ubabank274@yahoo.com)
Yours sincerely.
Mr David Mark
Governor for United Bank for Africa- UBA/ World Bank
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