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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "ZENITH BANK PLC" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <pswanson1@yahoo.cn>
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2013 01:24:49 -0700
Subject: INSTRUCTION FOR YOUR FIRST PAYMENT.

Zenith Bank of Nigeria Plc (ZBN)
Head Office Abuja, Nigeria
Ref: CENBANK/ABJ/OG-09
PAYMENT CODE: WB/CEN/06654-15

Dear Foreign Client

As your personal assistance here in this bank, it will be of great importance that we both work hand in hand so that I can be able to process your payments from our bank. Please be informed that the total amount in the SWIFT ATM CARD is $14.6 million USD and just as written on my previous email that you will only be able to withdraw a minimal limit of $5000 per each day, but we shall apply for limit increase as time goes on.

Before taking the right decision to avoid delays in receiving the funds perhaps I will explain to you line to line to give you a very broad clarification on how the ATM Card works and full activity knowledge of the funds.

1. How the swift card works is very easily as you can use it anywhere in the world to withdraw funds from any INTERS-WITCH ATM Machine, the card has a 4 digit security that allows you alone to have access to the funds inside the card, in case you wish to change the pin latter you will be required to provide the same original information you give to Identity your originality.

2. This is a credit card (MASTER CARD TYPE) which can only be used for withdrawal but perhaps only ZENITH BANK PLC can refund the account in the future, can’t be used for shopping or paying Bills.

3. The $5000.00 USD is the maximum limit of withdrawal per day which means that it will take another 24hours to make another withdraw, the limit of withdrawing can be increased depending on daily limit.

4. This ATM Card is just a means of paying you the $14.6 million USD instead of using Bank transfers due to the amount of commission required and C.O.T. Beside I want you to understand that these funds is set out as a compensation to all foreigners who are willing to claim their funds, my job is to assist you and present you as the beneficiary since I am in the right position of doing this

I want you to understand that your funds are being held for release with the treasury unit in charge of remitting funds for foreign Beneficiaries. And to pursue the release I will need to re-confirm your detailed information for the documentation.

Name:
Private Email:
Address in full:
Tel/Mobile:
Copy of any legal I.D:

Upon receipt of these details I shall begin processing of your ATM card delivery

My advice to you is to kindly follow all the required protocols to avoid having problems latter when the money arrive and avoid raising eyebrows from other government agency who will like to know the origin of the funds.

Please get back to me if you still need more details or call my direct on my mobile
I wait to hear from you soon
Regards
Philip Swanson
ZENITH BANK PLC.

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