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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:
- "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "atm card department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
- 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.
- unitedbank_forafrica@dbzmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: LUC MOERS <"www."@almond.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Dr.SOLOMON GOODLUCK" <unitedbank_forafrica@dbzmail.com>
Date: Sat, 13 May 2017 01:55:35 +0900 (JST)
Subject: ATM CARD DEPARTMENT UBA BANK PLC
ATM CARD DEPARTMENT UBA BANK PLC
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN WEST AFRICA.
OUR REF:U.B./MF/B01/Vol 01
EMAIL:unitedbank_forafrica@dbzmail.com
ATTENTION PLEASE!!!
WE WERE AUTHORIZED BY THE PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN (PATRICE TALON) AND THE GOVERNING BOARD OF CENTRAL BANK TO INVESTIGATE THE UNNECESSARY DELAY OF YOUR PAYMENT, TO ALSO RECOMMEND AND APPROVE YOUR CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT IF THE REPORT OF THE UNCLAIMED CONTRACT/INHERITANCE FUND IS GENUINE.HOWEVER, WE DISCOVERED THAT YOUR FUND HAS BEEN UNNECESSARILY DELAYED BY CORRUPT OFFICIALS OF SOME BANKS.
WE HAVE AGREED WITH THE AUTHORITY THAT WE WILL HANDLE THIS PAYMENT OURSELVES TO AVOID THE HOPELESS SITUATION CREATED BY THOSE OFFICIALS. CURRENTLY YOUR INHERITANCE/CONTRACT AND COMPENSATION FUND OF 10.5MILLION HAS BEEN CREDITED IN ATM CARD. CONTACT DR.SOLOMON GOODLUCK (UBA BANK ATM DIRECTOR) WITH YOUR DETAILS INCLUDING DIRECT CELL PHONE NUMBER FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY.
CONTACT PERSON: Dr.SOLOMON GOODLUCK
DIRECTOR ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT
(UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC COTONOU, BENIN REPUBLIC)
E-mail: unitedbank_forafrica@dbzmail.com
SIGNED,
LUC MOERS,
IMF DIRECTOR
BENIN REPUBLIC.
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Anti-fraud resources:
