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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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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:
- "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "atm card department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "affidavit of claim" (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. )
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "zenith_atm_card01111@voila.fr" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" scams)
- "zenith_atm_card01111@voila.fr" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Ben John" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <zenith_atm_card01111@voila.fr>
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2011 17:37:28 +0100
Subject: CONTACT ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT ZENITH BANK
Attn:Sole Beneficiary,
Although goodday to you and your family,I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick your inheritance claim Bank Draft of ($4.5Million) of lottery prize winning claim, organized by world health organization (W.H.O) for the less privileged ones and disables but did not heard from you since that time then I went and deposited the Draft with Zenith Bank Plc here in Benin Republic, because I travelled to Argentina to see my boss and will not come back till next month end. I have arranged with them to make your payment to you with their New ATM MASTER CARD which you can use to withdraw your money in any ATM MACHINE around the globa.
This is to inform you that the Benin republic Union Pay settlement Committee and the ATM International Inc. wishes to congratulate you on the successful emergence in our ongoing fund remittance promo of all ATM card users around the globe. This scheme was initiated by the B.U.P and the ATM Inc. to compensate ATM card users and also to help the world in the sustainable 2010 poverty alleviation scheme. In regards to this, we wish to inform you that your ATM compensation funds valued at (US$4.500.000.00) Four million and five hundred thousand United States dollars has been authorized to be released to you through our corresponding financial institution in Benin Republic.
You have to contact the Zenith Bank Plc with your full contact informations such as follows.
1. FULL NAME
2. ADDRESS WERE YOU WANT THEM TO SEND THE ATM CARD
3 PHONE AND FAX NUMBER
4. YOUR AGE AND CURRENT OCCUPATION
5. ATTACH COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION
However, Kindly contact the below person who is in position to release your ATM MASTERCARD.
CONTACT ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT ZENITH BANK
Contact person:Prof. Henry William
PHONE NUMBER :+22-997-836-292 OR 0022-966-481-855
FAX NUMBER:0022-966-481-855 OR +22-997-836-292
EMAIL:(zenith_atm_card01111@voila.fr)
I have paid for the processing and delivery charges.The only Money that your are going to pay to them is only $185.98k Dollars which they will use to obtain the Affidavit Of claim Onwership from the Federal High Court Of Benin Republic on your behalf.
Try to contact them as soon as possible to quicken the processing of your atm card before your draft gets Expired . Let me know as soon as and try your best contact the zenith bank atm card department.
Thanks
Mr Ben John
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