419 scam: "ALHAJI VICTOR USMAN"<usman@zenithbank.com> URGENT ATM CARD

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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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2347058883247

Fraud email example:

From: "ALHAJI VICTOR USMAN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <zenith18@live.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 01:06:23 +0100
Subject: URGENT ATM CARD

ZENITH BANK OF NIGERIA
PLOT 87, AJOSE AdDEOGUN STREET,
VICTORA ISLAND

OFFICE OF THE ZENITH BANK,
ZENITH INTERNATIONL BANK OF NIGERIA, (Z.I.B)
PLOT 87, AJOSE AdDEOGUN STREET,VICTORA ISLAND.
PHONE: +234 705 888 3247

ATTN: BENEFICIARY/CONTRACTOR/AWARD WINNER

YOUR PARTICULARS WAS MENTIONED IN OUR JUST CONCLUDED END OF YEAR DEBT SETTLEMENT GENERAL MEETING. A PART PAYMENT OF $5.5 MILLION (FIVE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED UNITED STATES DOLLARS) WAS APPROVED ON YOUR NAME. THIS PAYMENT WILL BE PROGRAMMED INTO AN AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE (ATM CARD) POWERED BY MASTERCARD AND WILL BE MAILED TO YOUR ADDRESS BY COURIER SERVICE.

YOU ARE IMMEDIATELY REQUIRED TO RE-CONFIRM AND FORWARD TO MY DESK THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION'S:

1. YOUR REQUIRED NAME TO BE PRINTED ON YOUR ATM CARD:
2. YOUR PRESENT RESIDENT MAILING ADDRESS (NOT P.O BOX):
3. YOUR PERSONAL AND REACHABLE MOBILE PHONE NUMBER:

NOTE: YOU ARE TO PAY THE SUM OF $350 AS ACTIVATION FEE FOR YOUR ATM CARD, THIS PAYMENT IS VERY COMPULSORY OTHERWISE DON'T REPLY.

WE ARE SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCES THE DELAY OF YOUR PAYMENT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED YOU. BE WARNED TO STOP ALL COMMUNICATION AND CORRESPONDENCE WITH ALL PAST IMPERSONATORS YOU HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THAT HAVE CAUSED THIS DELAY IN YOUR PAYMENT.

YOURS SINCERELY,
ALHAJI VICTOR USMAN
ZENITH INTERNATIONL BANK OF NIGERIA, (Z.I.B)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam