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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:
- "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "i will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "uba.atmcardpayment15@gmail.com" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- uba.atmcardpayment15@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Kennedy
Reply-To: <uba.atmcardpayment15@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2015 23:32:41 +0200
Subject: Your urgent response is needed.
ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA (UBA)
LAGOS NIGERIA
www.ubagroup.com/ubanigeria/
Email: uba.atmcardpayment15@gmail.com =
RE: URGENT REPLY NEEDED WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT:
Accredited ATM card (UBA/HS/02482/BG) awarded for contract payment of USD$2=
Million USD with card number:4848-4210-8720-6344 has been allocated in you=
r favor Your Personal Identification Number is 2482. Did you instruct Mr. J=
ames Brown to collect your ATM CARD worth USD$2 million on your behalf? Get=
back to this office immediately you receive this message for confirmation =
and immediate action.
I will advice you confirm the below information immediately and make sure y=
ou fill in the information correctly and contact the ATM PAYMENT CENTRE wit=
h the below information.
COMPLETE THE FORM BELOW:
Did you instruct Mr. James Brown to collect your ATM CARD?:....(Yes/No)
Your Full Names:..........
Residential Address: ............
City:.................
State:...............
Country:...............
Direct Phone Number#:..........
Age:.........
Sex:.........
Occupation:...............
Note that the shipment of your ATM CARD will be taken care of by the UNITED=
BANK FOR AFRICA so you will not have to pay for the shipment. The only mon=
ey you will have to pay is $325.00USD for the CaRd activation fee so that o=
nce you receive it, you can start making use of it immediately and endorse=
ment for the Authorization. Upon your reply and confirmation of your detail=
s your will be advice on further proceedings. Meanwhile we are given you a=
%100 fully assurance that at the end you have all the full joy to celebrat=
e, few days ago we have send some of the clients card that just concluded a=
nd obtain their non resident certificate here is their tracking information=
and their card is on the way to their various destination as you may know.=
(www.dhl.com)
TAKE NOTE. Be aware that you are the only person left to receive your ATM C=
ard out of the (6) Six beneficiaries and for your confirmation go to DHL Ex=
press Delivery Services website (www.dhl.com) and you will see the one on T=
ransit and the ones we delivered (1222947316) 1106958510, 4855973872,) Tra=
ck DHL Express Shipments with (www.dhl.com)
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Mr. Kennedy Uzoka
ATM PAYMENT CENTRE
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA NIGERIA
www.ubagroup.com/ubanigeria/
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Anti-fraud resources:
