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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 PLC <info@zenith.cc.cz.com>
Reply-To: zenithbankplccustomercare@accountant.com
Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:07:42 +0800
Subject: TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN!!

DIRECTOR: MR. GODWIN EMEFIELE.
TELEGRAPHIC TRANSFER DEPARTMENT
ZENITH BANK NIGERIA PLC.
TELEPHONE: +234-8125373418


ATTENTION: Beneficiary,


DID YOU SIGN THE DEED ON YOUR INHERITANCE FUNDS OF $12.5 MILLION USD

THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR OVER DUE INHERITANCE FUNDS HAS BEEN GAZETTED TO BE RELEASED,VIA KEY WIRE TRANSFER (KWT) -DIRECT WIRE TRANSFER TO YOU BY THE UNITED NATION FOR FOREIGN OVER DUE FUND TRANSFER.

MEANWHILE,A WOMAN CAME TO MY OFFICE FEW DAYS AGO WITH A LETTER,CLAIMING TO BE YOUR TRUE REPRESENTATIVE, THAT YOU ARE DEAD.

HERE ARE HER INFORMATION:
NAME:MRS.JANET MELLBERG
BANK NAME: CITI BANK, NEW YORK.
BANK ADDRESS:NEW YORK, USA.
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 6503809428.

PLEASE,DO RECONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE ,AS A MATTER OF URGENCY IF THIS WOMAN IS FROM YOU SO THAT THE NIGERIA GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING INTO THE WRONG ACCOUNT NAME.

THE ZENITH BANK CEO,EXECUTIVE, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE UNITED NATION FOR FOREIGN OVER DUE INHERITANCE FUND HAVE APPROVED AND ACCREDITED THIS REPUTABLE BANK WITH THE OFFICE OF THE
DIRECTOR,INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE / FOREIGN OPERATIONS,TO HANDLE AND TRANSFER ALL FOREIGN INHERITANCE FUNDS THIS SECOND QUARTER PAYMENT OF THE YEAR.

PROVIDE US WITH YOUR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS FOR PROPER VERIFICATION OF FILE.

HOWEVER,WE SHALL PROCEED TO ISSUE ALL PAYMENTS DETAILS TO THE SAID MRS.JANET MELLBERG,IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU WITHIN THE NEXT SEVEN WORKING DAYS FROM TODAY.

CONGRATULATIONS IN ADVANCE.

Best Regards,
DIRECTOR: MR. GODWIN EMEFIELE.
TELEGRAPHIC TRANSFER DEPARTMENT
ZENITH BANK NIGERIA PLC.
TELEPHONE: +2348125373418
PLEASE YOU CALL US ON THIS PHONE NUMBER FOR MORE ADVISE


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