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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" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <zenithdirect23@zing.vn>
Date: Wed, 2 May 2012 03:21:09 +0800
Subject: ALERT READ THIS MESSAGE (URGENT)

Zenith Bank PLC
Plot 84, Ajose Adeogun Street,
Victoria Island, La, NGN
 
Ref: ZNT/NBN|44.96|14:00 EDT
 
Dear Sir/Madam,
 
We have been trying to contact you to clarify and resolve the misunderstanding and problem at hand. We do not intend to send to you a scam or any sort of fraudulent email because you also need to know if you are being directed by the unknown, therefore, this email should not be regarded as unsolicited, as our intention is for your best interest and to protect your human right, and our good image and reputation and to maintain our Leadership in professionalism.
 
 
Be informed that we the Zenith Bank PLC have received instruction to release the approved sum of Thirteen Million Five Hundred and Sixty Five Thousand US Dollars Only (US$13, 565, 000.00) to you, as your Inheritance/contract fund. We have with us the entered documentation required for this payment in your favor. We shall be waiting to hear from you for the immediate payment.
 
We hope hearing from you soon because you are hereby given the chance to Receive your funds payment legitimately and ceremoniously after the Verification over your funds legitimacy.
 
The authorities have secretly investigated and discovered the legitimacy of your approved funds, and their endorsement for the free release of your funds to you has been issued. You are therefore; approved to receive your payment immediately we have a feedback from your side, to facilitate the entire required documentation in your name as the sole beneficiary to the aforementioned funds, which shall be released to you as soon as we receive your response to this email.
 
My bank is willing to release your Certified Bank Draft to you, should anything happen to your payment as the authorities might decide to cancel it if you delay for long as the case may be, understand that my bank will not be held liable. Therefore, this is the best chance you would need to receive your payment. The scan original copy of the Draft will be forwarded to you via email as well.
 
After this resent approval of your contract/inheritance fund payment of Thirteen Million Five Hundred and Sixty Five Thousand US Dollars Only (US$13, 565, 000.00) to be released from my bank, Mr. Hancock William from Washington DC contacted my bank requesting for the release of your funds in his name as your next-of-kin/beneficiary hence you are proclaimed dead. And the below are his bank account details he provided, urging my bank to transfer your fund immediately into his account before it is too late:
 
 
His Bank Account Details:
Account Name: Mr. Hancock William
Bank name: Bank of America
Account No.: #9085686846
Routing No.: #54664564
Swift Code: #BOA57293GH
Address: Washington DC
 
Please, if you are not dead as this man falsely said, kindly provide in the below order, the required from you to enable us update your payment documents so that the payment to you would take place without delay:
 
Full names:
House address:
Occupation:
Phone/fax:
Age/sex:
D.O.B
 
Thank you for your understanding
 
Yours In-Service
 
Mr. Peter Amangbo
Executive Director
Zenith Bank PLC.
Tel/: +2347035746198

Anti-fraud resources: