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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: "ANDREW G.MARTINS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ZenithBankInfo@mail.mn>
Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 21:13:03 -0700
Subject: PLEASE RECONFIRM TO US AS A MATTER OF URGENCY

AUDITING/ACCOUNT DEPT
ZENITH BANK PLC
Our Ref: ZNH/IRD/UBX/021/08
 
 
ATTN: BENEFICIARY,
 
 
FOLLOWING THE PROTEST OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, THE WORLD BANK , IMF AND THE INSTRUCTION BY THE NEW ELECTED PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES (DR.GOODLUCK JONATHAN) THAT ALL OUTSTANDING FOREIGN DEBTS ESPECIALLY CONTRACT/INHERITANCE FUNDS SHOULD BE RELEASED TO THE BENEFICIARIES IMMEDIATELY AND UNCONDITIONALLY.
 
THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR OVER DUE INHERITANCE FUNDS HAS BEEN GAZETTE TO BE RELEASED THROUGH OUR BANK AS THE ACCREDTED  BANK, THIS FUND WILL BE TRANSFER OR BY CERTIFIED CHECK THROUGH ANY OF OUR NOMINATED CORRESPONDENT BANK AS INSTRUCTED BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN OVERDUE FUND TRANSFER.
  
MEANWHILE, WE HAVE  RECEIVED A MAIL FEW DAYS AGO FROM A MAN CLAIMING TO BE YOUR TRUE REPRESENTATIVE, HERE ARE HIS INFORMATION FOR YOU TO CONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE IF THIS MAN IS TRULY FROM YOU OR NOT SO THAT THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE  WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING INTO THE WRONG ACCOUNT.
     
NAME: MR NELSON MESOJDEVIC
BANK NAME: WELLS FARGO BANK
BANK ADDRESS: CALIFORNIA U.S.A
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 6503809428.
  
PLEASE, DO RECONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE, AS A MATTER OF URGENCY IF THIS MAN IS FROM YOU.  
YOU ARE REQUESTED TO FILL AND SEND THIS INFORMATION FOR VERIFICATIONS PURPOSES SO THAT YOUR FUND VALUED $10.5M US DOLLARS WILL BE REMITTED INTO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT. THIS FUND IS AS A RESULT OF INHERITANCE ON YOUR BEHALF. INFORMATION NEEDED FROM YOU FOR VERIFICATION IS AS FOLLOWS:
  
1) YOUR FULL NAME
2) PHONE AND FAX NUMBER
3) STATE/COUNTRY 
4) YOUR AGE AND CURRENT OCCPATION
5) ATTACH A COPY OF YOUR INTRENATIONAL PASSPORT OR DRIVER LICENCE.
 
AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE THIS, WE SHALL COMMENCE WITH ALL THE NECESSARY PROCEDURES IN OTHER TO REMIT THIS MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. THE ZENITH BANK EXECUTIVES, BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR FOREIGN OVER DUE INHERITANCE FUND HAVE APPROVED AND ACCREDITED THIS REPUTABLE BANK WITH THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE/FOREIGN OPERATIONS,TO HANDLE AND TRANSFER ALL FOREIGN INHERITANCE FUNDS PAYMENT OF THE YEAR 2010. HOWEVER, WE SHALL PROCEED TO ISSUE ALL PAYMENTS DETAILS TO THE SAID MR NELSON, IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU WITHIN THE NEXT SEVEN WORKING DAYS FROM TODAY AS ALL FOREIGN PAYMENT MUST BE  MADE BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR. WE ARE SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THE DELAY IN TRANSFERRING OF THIS FUND MIGHT HAVE CAUSED YOU
YOURS IN SERVICE
ANDREW G.MARTINS.
 
AUDITING/ACCOUNTING DEPT
ZENITH BANK PLC .
CC: FOREIGN PAYMENT OFFICES
CC: BOARD OF DIRECTORS [FPD]

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