|
|
joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
|
|
"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:
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: MR JOHN WILLIAMS <customerscare67@gmail.com>
Reply-To: MR JOHN WILLIAMS <mrphillipboni@yahoo.fr>
Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2015 19:33:32 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Welcome to United Bank for Africa (UBA)
Welcome to United Bank for Africa (UBA)
International Payment Department.
Cotonou, Benin Republic
Office Number: 00229-65830256
Attn: Dear Customer
United
Bank for Africa (UBA) Cotonou Benin, acknowledge the receipt of your
mail message and we understand that you prefer to claim your outstanding
sum of USD1.5M only by Online Bank wire transfer KTT into personal bank
account in your country .
In line with our wire transfer
modalities you are instructed to comply with the following instruction
by providing the following information outline below to enable us credit
your fund into your bank account within 48hours without any more delay.
1. Furnish us with a copy of your valid ID CARD for identification purposes
2. Fill out the payment verification form list in this email bellow for easy crediting of your fund into your Bank Account.
Your Full Name:................
Your Country...................
Home Address:................
Direct Number:..............
Bank Name:.................
Bank Address:..............
Account Number:...........
Routing Number:...........
Swift Code:................
Copy Of ID CARD ............
You
should fill out the details required in the UBA Transfer Application
Form noted to this message and send it back along with your valid ID
picture for identification purpose only and the details could be sent
through email transmission,
And once we receive the details from
you the transfer of your fund will be completed within 2 banking days
after we have conclude the process of carrying out the transfer to your
bank account.
the transfer electronic receipt will be send to
you to educate you on the arrival of your fund into your Bank Account
within 2 banking days counting from the very minute the transfer was
effect to your Bank account.
Therefore, our legal verification
officer is presently waiting for you to validity us with the required
information for immediate process of the transfer so we will authorize
our foreign remittance to credit your account with the sum of US
USD1.5M m MILLION.
Sign/ Approval.
United Bank for Africa (UBA)
International Payment Department.
Cotonou, Benin Republic.
Direct Phone Number: 00229 65830256
Mr. Phillip Boni (CEO)
|
Anti-fraud resources:
