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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:
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "lagos" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "UNION BANK OF NIGERIA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <nikbnson1@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2017 16:58:30 -0300
Subject: WITHHELD PAYMENT RELEASE.
Union Bank of Nigeria
HEAD OFFICE STALLION PLAZA
36, Marina Lagos.
Foreign operation office
Ogundipe Gbolahan David
WITHHELD FUND RELEASE
Subject to the directive from the Federal Ministry of Finance to pay your inheritance/lottery/contract sum. An ATM Card Number: 5120 8156 1062 5647 worth USD$750,000 has been accredited by the Union bank of Nigeria as part payment of your withheld transfer authorized by the Ministry of Finance.
In view of the payment authorization issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) in your favour, we request you contact us with the following information for verification and immediate release of your ATM card.
1.Full Name:
2.Delivery Address (not postal address):
3.Phone number:
4.Age:
5.Gender:
6.Occupation:
We undertake that drawing of ATM card under this notice will be honoured upon completion of the verification/authentication process. Bear in mind that you will pay the courier service/insurance ($140) charge being the amount needed to courier your ATM card to your address as we are not authorized to make deductions from your funds. This is the case only when you cannot come to our above office address to pick your ATM card in person.
You are receiving this message as a result of the directive from the Federal Ministry of Finance instructing the Union Bank of Nigeria to release your withheld payment with your full compliance. You will receive your ATM card 72hrs after completion of verification. Please note that you have a 14days period to make your claim, after which non-compliance will attract declaration of your ATM card as unclaimed and funds reverted to the government treasury.
Please help us to serve you better.
Yours Faithfully,
Ogundipe Gbolahan David
FOREIGN OPERATIONS
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Anti-fraud resources:
