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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:
- "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)
- "non-resident tax" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "MRS. KATHERINE IGWE" <papilononi001@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "MRS. KATHERINE IGWE" <uba_atm220@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2015 02:53:54 +0900 (JST)
Subject: CONTACT U.B.A BANK FOR YOUR ATM CARD:
How are you doing today?
This is to officially inform you today that your $5.4 million United States dollars fund which was deposited with the United Bank (UBA) Benin by the Federal Ministry of Finance has been registered in an ATM VISA CARD. It was mandated by the Ministry of Finance that your fund $5.4 million be registered in an ATM CARD and issued with immediate effect. Your ATM VISA CARD is ready for use at any ATM machine and will be issued to you by UBA bank.
Non-resident taxes are quite recommendable through transfer and that is why the bank was instructed to convert the whole money $5.4m USD into ATM card.
Please contact the United Bank for Africa (UBA) ATM department today for the release of your ATM VISA CARD worth $5.4m United States dollars. Contact Mr. Williams Ibusa who is the director; ATM department; United Bank for Africa (UBA) for them to arrange for the immediate delivery of your card.
Contact Person: Mr. Williams Ibusa
Phone: (+)229 688 085 54
Contact the ATM department immediately with the above information and reconfirm the below details to him.
Your Full Names...............
Address.......................
City.........................
Occupation...................
Sex/age......................
Phone Number................
Yours in Service
Mrs. Katherine Igwe;
Debt Management Board;
Federal Ministry of Finance.
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Anti-fraud resources:
