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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Zenith Bank Nigeria" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <chrisobih363@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Fri, 9 Dec 2011 07:13:25 -0800
Subject: CHANGE OF ACCOUNT !!!

ZENITH BANK NIGERIA PLC,
ADEOLA HOPEWELL STREET.
VICTORIA - ISLAND ,
LAGOS-NIGERIA.

Attention: Beneficiary,

In our office last week, was a present of One Mr. John T. Kehoe of 122 Fitch Way, Sacramento, CA.USA 95864 filing application contrary to your pending fund transfer.
The above mentioned people visited this Bank last week with a power of attorney given in his favor by your good self, granting him the benefit to process and claim your inheritance of $10,000,000.00(Ten Million United States Dollars Only) for personal reasons. He further Stated that the online account be Terminated while the fund should be wired to his Bank account with Bank Of America,

Account Number # 12908576457
Routing Number# 121000358.

Our office have ask Mr. John T. Kehoe return back to the Bank this week to enable us have a personal confirmation from you being hitherto the beneficiary.
We are sorry to have delayed your instruction in giving out this fund since we must adhere to the modus operandi of this honorable bank by making sure this request is verified and confirmed by the beneficiary and his existing attorney.

Your confirmation to the above will be appreciated. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,
Mr.Chris Obih
Group MD/CEO
ZENITH BANK PLC ( Nigeria ) Plc.

NB: This will be our last mail to you if we did not get your email today.

Anti-fraud resources: