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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "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 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.
- ubabeninplc@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Peter Anderson" <"www."@lily.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mr. Peter Anderson " <ubabankbeninrepublic261@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2017 10:14:02 +0900 (JST)
Subject: From The Desk of [UBA] PLC
From The Desk of [UBA] PLC.
United bank of Africa Benin republic
ATM visa card Department.
We Wishes to inform you that we are in receipt of our ATM CARD issued in your favor with amount of [$4.5M] Four million five hundred thousand united state dollars from DHL express delivery service company and they told us to cancel the ATM card, that you have refused to send the mailing fee of your ATM CARD which was $298 and you are now advised to contact our Director General and tell him what is going on and why you asked the DHL company to destroy your ATM visa card.
Contact our director Livenus Amobi, on this email; [ubabeninplc@yahoo.com] and send your name, address and telephone number to him incase you still want to receive your ATM card; hence he will cancel it as requested by the DHL delivery company.
so contact Dr.Livenus via his phone number (+229-679-873-30) we have been waiting to hear from you first, to know if you still want to receive your ATM card or not. Before we will take any action. So feel free to get in touch with our bank director because your ATM card is with him. and ask him to send it to you through any other means you may wish to use in getting your card at this point.
Thank you and a wonderful day.
With my best regards,
Mr. Peter Anderson,
Departmental Maneger [UBA PLC]
Federal Republic Of Benin.
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Anti-fraud resources:
