419 scam: "PROF JAMES UNION"<engineer@piotr.so> Your Atm Master Card

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- zenithbankofnigeriasmailbox@rediffmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "PROF JAMES UNION" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <zenithbankofnigeriasmailbox@rediffmail.com>
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2012 18:53:53 +0400
Subject: Your Atm Master Card

Good Day, I was instructed to inform you on the latest development concerning your fund.For your information note that after our resolution meeting with the new Minister of Finance this first quarter 2012 with our New President we have agreed to pay off your fund. Therefore note that your information has been passed to Zenith Bank Nigeria to pay your entire fund to you including the interest via wire ATM VISA CARD which you will use to withdraw your fund in any ATM machine world wild $5000.The total sum is $14.6MILLION This is because if we continue to wait the bank check will expire and when it expired your inheritance fund of $14.6MILLION will be returned to federal government treasury account that is why we convert the fund to ATM VISA CARD . At this moment be advice to Contact your paying officer for the Immediate Processing of your ATM VISA CARD. Your full Name_________________________ Your Address__________________________ Your Country___________________________ Your Age______________________________ Your Occupation________________________ Your Phone number______________________ Contact person: Prof . James Union Address : Zenith Bank ,Plot 84, Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island Lagos, Nigeria. E-mail:zenithbankofnigeriasmailbox@rediffmail.com Endeavor to email him the following information for immediate processing, Regards, Profjamesunion

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam