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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: United Bank for Africa <xxx.unionsbonline@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ubabankofbenin011@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2022 08:09:24 +0100
Subject: Your urgent respond is needed

Dear Sir/Madam,

With all due respect,This particular letter is strictly confidential
and only for your perusal.Based on your inability to complete your
claim from your previous transactions, we have been officially
appointed by World Bank - Switzerland to release the already
ear-marked (assigned) sum of (US$10,500,000.00) to you as a form of
settlement of debt. Officially,

you are the true beneficiary to the stated sum. The US Treasury
Department and the Securities/Exchange Commission are collectively
ready to APPROVE and ORDER for the immediate swift wire transfer of
your due funds via Telegraphic Transfer/Telex Transfer (Swift).

As a matter of fact we are ready to effect the onward remittance of
your due fund but your partner/representative (Mr.Ferdinand Bulham)
from Netherland's has advised us to transfer your fund into his own
personal account. The mentioned person (Mr.Ferdinand Bulham) said that
you authorized him to help you collect your due fund from this bank.
Please confirm to us if we should release your due fund to your
partner/representative (Mr.Ferdinand Bulham). We hereby anticipate
your swift response because this is urgent.

Yours truly,

Ms. Miriam Bruh
Director Foreign Remittance Department.
United Bank for Africa.

Anti-fraud resources: