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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: "Richmond Luke" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.richmondluke@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2014 14:51:34 +0100
Subject: ZENITH BANK INT'L NIGERIA PLC

ZENITH BANK INT'L NIGERIA PLC
GOVERNMENT NOTIC NO:07852
EXTERNAL DEBT PAYMENT
Address Head Office: Plot
84, Ajose Adeogun Street
Victoria Island, Lagos-Nigeria
EMAIL;f_gov@aol.com
 
Attention
jamesajibola
JAMES AJIBLA
I am Mr. Richmond Luke, the new account audit of Zenith Bank Plc Nigeria and i am writing to notify you of a payment file containing an ATM card which has been issued out to you by the Federal Ministry of Finance in conjunction with the United Nation/International Monetary Fund (IMF).
 
I am new here in this office and i have orders from the entire government of the Federal republic of Nigeria to contact beneficiaries and make sure they receive their ATM cards if it’s still in custody of this bank. Can you kindly let us know the reason of your delay concerning the Delivery of your ATM CARD? Why do you decide to abandon your ATM CARD? Worth of $4.5million USD with us, if you fail to contact us on or before 48 hours or else we shall cancel the delivery of your ATM CARD and return your fund to government reserve account, your delivery Process had been done.
 
 
However, the delivery Process of your ATM Card has been concluded. If you are ready to receive your ATM Card, then make sure to contact the courier company with the contact details below, which are in charge of making delivery of ATM Card Parcels. I have made several inquiries on various delivery companies and the only fee you have to pay for the delivery is US$145.00usd (One Hundred and Forty-Five United States Dollars Only, which covers the delivery to your doorstep. This is the cheapest I could find and I was made to understand that it takes just 3 days to get your package to your residence. On receipt of the required payment a tracking number will be sent to you to enable you track your package till it gets to your residence.
 
 
Do make sure that you send them the above mentioned fee through Money Gram or Western Union Money Transfer for the immediate procedure of your ATM CARD delivery, to avoid any delay.
 
 
COURIER COMPANY NAME: FEDEX SERVICE, LAGOS-NIGERIA
CONTACT NAME: MR.  JAMES AJIBLA , DIRECTOR, INTEGRATED DELIVERY DEPARTMENT
EMAIL:  jamesajibola1002@superposta.com
 
SEND THE FEE TO THEM WITH THE INFORMATION BELOW:
 
RECEIVERS NAME: AFA EBEM
 
LOCATION: LAGOS-NIGERIA
 
QUESTION: WHO?
 
ANSWER: AFA
 
AMOUNT: $145.00USD
 
Contact the delivery company personnel as soon as possible or risk loosing the ATM.
 
 
Yours Sincerely,
 
Mr.Richmond Luke
 
Zenith Bank ATM VISA CARD DPT.

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