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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:

Fraud email example:

From: Mr.Tony Elumelu <ubabnak11@gmail.com>
Reply-To: <ubabnak1@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2021 05:43:16 -0700
Subject: Good day my dear

Urgent Attention:
I am Mr.Tony Elumelu,the chairman of United Bank for Africa Plc,you are
lucky to have me interfere in your transaction. This message contains the
terms of banking order, I am not sending you this message to entertain pity,
this is why I must inform you first before embarking on such a huge lost
decision. Your payment file was brought to my desk yesterday on Monday with
aims of cancelling the transaction pending with UBA. I paused the process
and decided to contact you as Group chairman of United Bank for Africa Plc.I
am a superior to other staff handling this transaction before, my words are
final but time doesn't permit me to be in charge of any transaction but as
it stands I have taken charge of your transaction.
Your payment file contained information of 4,500,000:00 USD not any other
amount, any other amount contrary to this is fake. I have 3 questions for
you:

1.Would you like to have this fund by ATM card?
2. Would you like to have the fund by wire transfer?
3. Would you like this transaction to be cancelled and fund confiscated?

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is a Nigerian law
enforcement agency that investigates financial crimes such as delayed
transactions. The EFCC has notified us that the sum of 4,500,000:00 USD
pending on your data will be confiscated in the next 48 hours if the
beneficiary failed to claim it. This is why you have those 3 questions to
answer. I was made to understand that you are expected to remit above fees
$82 for wire transfer and $99 for ATM card. You have 48 hours to decide
otherwise and failure to provide the fee today then forget it.I do not send
you this message to entertain pity or pay fees for you, if that is the case
do not respond to this message because it is not necessary, you have 48
hours to decide otherwise and failure to provide the fee from now to end of
tomorrow or forget it.

Mr.Tony Elumelu
UBA Chairman

Anti-fraud resources: