419 scam: "ZENITH BANK PLC"<sales> RESPOND IMMEDIATELY

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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:

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:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- zenithbankplc491@yahoo.se (Yahoo, Sweden; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "ZENITH BANK PLC" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <zenithbankplc491@yahoo.se>
Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2013 16:57:54 +0100
Subject: RESPOND IMMEDIATELY

Attn.Sir.

This is just a short true note about your unpaid fund, therefore, you need to relax and read very well to your best understanding.

I am Mr.John Dike. a computer scientist working with Zenith bank of Nigeria because of my ability to operate computerized activities. I am 46 years old, I came across your file which was marked 'X' and your released disk painted RED, I took time to study it and found out that you have paid VIRTUALLY all fees but the fund was not released to you.

I can make the interest of your fund be released to you bit by bit via western union money/money gram transfer if you can certify me of my security and assure me that when I make the release, you will settle me.

I needed to do this because you need to know the status of your Funds and cause for the delay as well being in your shoe, Please this is like a Mafia setting in Nigeria, you may not understand it because you are not a Nigerian or you might not have been to Nigeria. The only thing needed to release this accumulated interest fund is to get the disket print-out of your fund which you have to pay only $78 before it will be release to me,then after getting it,i will start remitting your accumulated interest to you through western union or money gram transfer.

Note that the actual interest accumulated so far from your total fund is valued at $31,658 and the president made a compensation fund release for all unpaid beneficiaries valued at $150.000.00 USD so i will advise you to work for your interest payment first so that you will have enough money to finance on your compensation payment.

As soon as i hear from you,i will give you details to send the $78 for the disket print out.

Please keep secret..

I look forward to your maximum cooperation in anticipation.

Mr.John Dike.
For:Zenith Bank International Plc
Reply to: zenithbankplc491@yahoo.se

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam