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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:
- "western union" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: "United Bank of Africa" <uba@vodokanal.poltava.ua>
Reply-To: unitedbankforafrica201@aol.com
Date: Wed, 10 Jul 2019 19:16:42 +0300
Subject: Hello Beneficiary
United Bank of Africa
4 Ibeh Road Okota Isolo
Lagos Nigeria
Hello
We hereby notify you that your fund which is with us is due for payment
and this fund has over stayed here. This fund according to the former
account officer that is in charge of this fund said that this fund has
over stayed here because of this fees $85. This fund which is here in this
bank are going to be in Government Account by Friday if you fail to
respond or send this fees $85 today or tomorrow morning. I am begging you
now to try harder to send this fees today because the Government of
Nigeria are after this fund and are ready to receive this fund that
belongs to you. I beg you in the name of God to send this fees today and
receive your fund
Secondly this fees $85 is needed by western union today but if you can not
use western union then you are free to buy iTunes card or Google Play
Card. Make sure you respond and send this fees before this fund will be
send to Government of Nigeria. I need only $85. Make sure you send this
fees and receive your fund by any means you want it as atm card, draft,
cash or wire transfer. Kindly get back to me because your fund will be
release to you with this fees $85 and no added fees needed.
Therefore, you are advise to send this fees by western union to
Receiver name: Obioma Maduka
City:Lagos
Country:Nigeria
Question:Now
Answer:Now
Amt: $85
Give me MTCN number with name of the sender and address after the payment.
Mr Ralph Eze
United Bank of Africa
Lagos Nigeria
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Anti-fraud resources:
