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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "United Bank for Africa" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ubabnak1@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2021 01:16:44 -0700
Subject: [**SPAM!**] GOOD MORNING
FOR GOD'S SAKE WHAT IS THE SILENCE ALL ABOUT?WE NEED YOUR RESPONSE RIGHT AWAY OR YOU LOSE YOUR FUNDS...DO YOU WANT TO LOOSEN YOUR FUNDS OF USD4.5M BECAUSE OF $99??
Please I want your urgent response as soon as you receive this email and explain to me the reason why you should abandon your funds for $99.00. But if you don't need it then i can change your name to another person so that the Government will not claim this money. Get back to me immediately.
I wish to inform you that you inherited this fund from International Monetary Fund (IMF)It happened during their program in West Africa.The fund was lodged on fixed savings by IMF.
This is to inform you that International Monetary Fund (IMF) left your funds worth of US 4. 5 Million with instructions that you will contact us for it that's why we sent you an email.Your fund is real, legitimate and legal and it is 100% guaranteed.I wish to inform you that the $99 is all it will take to finalize your payment.You will not be asked for more fees.
Yours faithfully in service,
Mr.Tony Elumelu
Executive Director General United Bank for Africa -(UBA)
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Anti-fraud resources:
