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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:
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "tonyelumelu@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "ZENITH BANK PLC (ZBN)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tonyelumelu1220@yahoo.cn>
Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2011 10:10:36 -0500
Subject: INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT OR THE ATM CARD
Zenith Bank of Nigeria Plc (ZBN)
Head Office Abuja, Nigeria
Ref: CENBANK/ABJ/OG-09
PAYMENT CODE: WB/CEN/06654-15
Dear Foreign Client
As your personal assistance here in this bank, it will be of great
importance that we both work hand in hand so that I can be able to
process the payments fast out here in our bank. Please be informed
that the total amount in the SWIFT ATM CARD is
$14.6 million USD and just as written on my previous email that you
will only be able to withdraw a minimal limit of $1200 per day, but we
shall apply for limit increase as time goes on.
I want you to understand that your funds are being held for release
with the treasury unit in charge of remitting funds for foreign
contractor. And to pursue the release I will need your details
information for the documentation.
Name:
Private Email:
Address in full:
Tel/Mobile:
Copy of any legal I.D:
Contact details for your payments:
E-mail: tonyelumelu@w.cn
Upon receipt of these details I shall begin processing of your ATM card delivery
Thanks
Tony Elumelu
Zenith Bank Nigeria Plc
Corporate Internet Banking
http://www.zenithbank.com/
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Anti-fraud resources:
