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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: "ZENITH BANK" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <zenithbnk95@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 3 Jul 2011 16:53:37 -0700
Subject: WE ARE READY TO TRANSFER YOUR COMPENSATION FUND.

Zenith Bank Plc
Plot 84 Ajose Adeogun Street
Victoria Island, Lagos

Attn:

(NOTICE OF COMPENSATION)

My office received your information sent to us by the United Nations to pay your US$4.2Million as compensation, which you are entitled to. On behalf of my office please accept our apology for the bitter experience you suffered in the past, regarding this very matter, we re-assuring you that the present intervention of UN strong resolution has signaled the final end of such problem.

On this important note, I wish to duly inform you, that you are required to send any of your identification items such as your driver License or International Passport, as well reconfirm your email address and telephone number to enable us comment your fund transfer process.

This is very important considering the fact that this payment exercise is a sensitive issue, because a Special Monitoring Unite comprising UN Agents and their Nigeria counterpart is keeping 24hrs surveillance in my office in making sure than the aimed desire of this exercise is achieved with utmost success.

Meanwhile, your file is currently undergoing final regularization with the legal department of this management for the onward, final payment of the said fund in your favor.

Call this office as soon as you receive this latter as confirmation;

my office awaits your immediate response. e-mail:

Thanks,
Yours faithfully.
Jim Ovia.
+234-7043092897

Anti-fraud resources: