joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
 Free trial for 30 days
   jwSpamSpy
Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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 (MD)."<test@test.com>
Reply-To: <central_desk_jim_ovia01@megamail.pt>
Date: Sat, 3 Oct 2009 14:58:48 -0700
Subject: FROM ZENITH BANK AND UN AGENTS.

Zenith Bank Plc.
Plot 84 Ajose Adeogun Street,
Victoria Island, Lagos.

Attn:

(NOTICE OF COMPENSATION)


My office received your information sent to us by the United Nations And Nigeria Government to pay your $500,000.00 as compensation, which you are entitled to. On behalf of my office please accept my apology for the bitter experience you suffered in the past, regarding this very matter, while reassuring you that the present intervention of UN and Nigeria Government strong resolution has signaled the final end of such problem.

On that important note, I wish to duly inform you, that you are required to send any of your identification items such as your driver License or International Passport without any further delay. This is very important considering the fact that this payment excise is a sensitive issue, because a Special Monitoring Unite comprising UN Agents and their Nigeria counterpart is keeping 24hrs surveillance in my office in making sure the aimed desire of this excise is achieved with utmost success.

So please the advised procedure as mentioned above always afford us the opportunity not to pay to a wrong person. Meanwhile, your file is currently undergoing final regularization with the legal department of this management for the onward final payment of the said fund in your favor.

Call me as soon as you receive this latter as confirmation; my office awaits your immediate response. e-mail: central_desk_jim_ovia01@megamail.pt

Thanks, Yours faithfully,
Mr. Jim Ovia (MD).
+234-8052253108



Anti-fraud resources: