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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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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:
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- zenithbank.euau2009fund@yahoo.com
Fraud email example:
From: "Daniel Morrison" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <zenithbank.euau2009fund@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 10:55:39 +0100
Subject: EU/AU FUND OFFER
====================
Zenith Bank/EU/AU FUND
3, Sylvia Crescent,
Anthony Ikeja,
Lagos, Nigeria
From:Daniel Morrison
Remittance Manager.
Zenith Bank Pl c.
ATTENTION BENEFICIARY
========================
RE:YOUR PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
==================================
This is to notify you that the EU/AU FUND OFFER is still on. You have been shortlisted among those who did not get their funds the past year.You are advised to forward your identification documents for verification so as to allow us remitt your funds to you without delay.
The delay in contacting you was due to the consolidation process undergone by the Banking Sector of the country. There has also been a change in the remittance Department of the Bank due to corrupt officials of our bank who have siphoned beneficiaries fund as a result of been illegally authorized to access their funds.
We have therefore resolved not to allow any official of this bank access the accounts created to keep beneficiaries funds safe.
We have painstakingling considered all the problems involved in remitting Funds this past year and have resolved to remitt your fund to you via our SWIFT CREDIT/ATM CARD CENTERS IN AMERICA.You are required to provide us with the information below to allow us begin processing your ATM card right away.
Full Name:
Address:(where you want your ATM card delivered)
Valid Phone Number: (must be reachable)
Bank Name:(for wire transfer)
Age: D.O.B
Occupation:
The funds you are offered is a European Union and African Union co-sponsored fund. You to understand where this funds is coming from.
The ATM card we are sending to you has been configured to access the EU's account in the USA and supply you with only $350.000. Our Bank has resolved not to engage the services of conventional courier agents in shiping CARDS to the USA. The Banker's Courier Service has been considered as the most secure
and efficient means of delivering your ATM card to your address.
Zenith Bank Plc will not be liable for any loss of fund or access to fund as a result of non-compliance with the layed down proceedure.
Your Remittance Manager is Daniel Morrison and you are advised to only reply to emails you get from our official email address: zenithbank.euau2009fund@yahoo.com.
For more information, please call:+23418979933 or email:zenithbank.euau2009fund@yahoo.com (also available on messenger for live conversation)
====================
Regards
Daniel Morrison
Remittance Manager
Zenith Bank PLc
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