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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: "Mr.Jim Ovia" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrjimovia.0100@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2013 17:21:05 +0100
Subject: DEAR SIR/MADAM YOUR UN ATM CARD FUND COMPENSATION IS READY

Zenith Bank PLC
 
Mr.Jim Ovia, Director
Atm Visa Card Unit,
International Atm Settlement Dept.
Zenith Bank Plc,oF Nigeria.
Plot 87, Ajose Adeogun Street,
Victoria Island, Lagos - Nigeria.
 
 
Attention : Sir,
This is to officially notifying you about the present arrangement to pay you, your over due contract/inheritance fund which you could not complete the process of the released, this was made by Mr. President - Dr. Good luck Jonathan, Federal Executive Council and Central Bank Of Nigeria in Conjunction with directives from United Nations and World Bank/IMF Delegations after their last meeting due to petitions from those that are victims of scam, and unpaid foreign beneficiaries of their fund, like you and we welcome you to Zenith Bank Plc, You will receive it through the Digitalized Payment System. So We have decided to pay your funds to you through (ONLINE SWIFT ATM VISA CARD) This arrangement was initiated/constituted by Mr. President - Dr. Good luck Jonathan, UN/WORLD BANK, due to fraudulent activities going on within the Region of the world today and it has been approved by the presidency to deliver here.
 
The World Bank and United Nations introduced this payment arrangement as to enable our contractors/inheritance beneficiary to receive their fund without any
interference. the ONLINE SWIFT ATM VISA CARD was contracted and powered by VISA CARD WORLD WIDE. Reconfirm the following information to us for Security reason.
1)YOUR FULL NAME.................
2)YOUR RECEIVING ADDRESS.........
3)YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER..........
4)YOUR PROFESSION................
5)YOUR AGE.......................
Upon the receipt of this mail we are going to load your $5.5 million into the ONLINE SWIFT ATM VISA CARD and send a scan copy of the card to you before we will proceed to dispatch the card directly to your nominated home address so you absolutely have nothing to worry about all we need is your Prompt Response and Co-operation by Gods Grace we will have a successful Transaction and what you have to do now is to obtain the INSURANCE BOND CERTIFICATE that has to be on your name to back up your card for successful delivery and also pay for the delivery fee of the courier and It will cost you $275usd and that is all.
 
 
N/B If you know that you will not pay the Courier Service Delivery Fee, please don't boarder to reply back.
 
Here is the information of payment
 
I await you reply
Yours In Service,
Mr.Jim Ovia
International Atm Settlement Dept,
Zenith Bank Plc

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