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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Zenýth Bank Plc" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bankzenith0434@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 9 Aug 2014 20:26:29 +0300
Subject: $10.700.000USD

RE: Attention,
 
>From The Records of Outstanding Payment With The Federal Government Of Nigeria Your Name Was Discovered As Next On The List Of Outstanding Beneficiary Who Have Not Received Their Payments. I Wish to Inform You That Your Payment Have being processed and will be Released to You As Soon As You Respond to This Letter. Also note that from Records in My File, Your Outstanding Payment Is ( Ten Million seven Hundred Thousand United States Dollars}. To this end, you are required to indicate your mode of payment.
 
1)BY ATM MASTER CARD
2)BY DIPLOMATIC CASH DELIVERY TO YOUR DOOR STEP
3)BY TELEGRAPHIC TELEX TRANSFER
 
 
Please Re-Confirm To Me If This Is In Line With What You Have In Your Record And Also Re-Confirm To Me The Followings:
 
1} Your Full Name ---------------------------------
2} Your Phone and Fax Numbers ----------------
3} Your Company Address and Position --------
4} Your Marital Status, Profession and Age. ----
 
As Soon As these Information is received, your transaction shall be addressed based on your choice of payment.Contact email
 
Yours In Service,
Rev. James Eke
Director Of Currency
Zenith Bank Plc

Anti-fraud resources: