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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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.

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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "bank charges " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "to your nominated bank account" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • zenithbkplc@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: ZENITH BANK NIGERIA PLC <zenithbkplc@yahoo.fr>
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:58:11 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: VERY URGENT ATTENTION


>From the desk of:
DR. GODWIN EMEFIELE
Foreign Payment Director
Zenith Bank plc

PAYMENT NOTIFICATION/ FINAL ORDER


This is to draw your attention that your fund is still lying in suspense account of ZENITH BANK which the presidency of the federal republic of Nigeria Authorized us to effect payment on there behalf is now ready for payment the only problem now is that we dictated a lot of irregularities/ involvements attached to your payment file.

(1) Did you at any time delegate any body not even from your family to claim your fund on your behalf?
(2) Were you involved in a motor accident?
(3) Are you aware or related to one Mr. Thomas Baker from your country
(4) Is Mr. Thomas Baker your next of Kin?

Please reconfirm and answer the above questions because one Mr. Thomas Baker came to our foreign payment department and submitted an application that Authorizes your funds to be paid into the account of Bank of America (BOA) with Account number: 0084900103874 then the one he earlier submitted for your payment with a report that you are now paralyzed as a result of the ghastly motor accident you had last month.

Infact, after processing the application by Mr. Thomas Baker himself which he made known to us that he came from you, he succeeded in paying all the bank charges that you are suppose to pay so as to make sure that we effect this transfer payment as quickly as possible without any further delay. All duplicate copies of his payment receipt is attached to your file. He has paid for the cost of transfer and stamps duties and other miscellaneous duty fees all amounting to US$105, 000,00

The delay transfer is from us now just because we requested for a power of attorney from him, which will be authorizing him to pursue this payment. He asked for a week so as to submit the documents but up till now we have not received any of the documents from any of you. why? So, please forward to us the power of Attorney by a return e-mail (zenithbkplc@yahoo.fr) so that we can effect your payment to your nominated Bank account without any further delay.

Thanks for your corporation.

DR. GODWIN EMEFIELE
Director Foreign Operations
ZENITH BANK



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam