419 scam: "ZENITH BANK NIGERIA PLC."<webmaster@zenithbank.com> URGENT NOTIFICATION OF RELEASE OF YOUR PAYMENT...

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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:
- "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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2347083061395 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
- +234161147500 (Nigeria, landline)

Fraud email example:

From: "ZENITH BANK NIGERIA PLC." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <zenithbnk-online@admin.in.th>
Date: Tue, 6 Dec 2011 22:54:58 -0400
Subject: URGENT NOTIFICATION OF RELEASE OF YOUR PAYMENT...

ZENITH BANK PLC.

P.M.B: 749 ? FGN / ABJ Ref No.: FGN/ABJ/NG/01/08

Plot 84, Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island Lagos, Nigeria..

E- mail: zenithbnk-online@admin.in.th

Fax: 234 (1) 61147500

Date:7/12/2011

ATTN:BENEFICIARY

BENEFICIARY OF FUNDS VALUED (US $14.500.00 MILLION) ONLY

RE - URGENT NOTIFICATION OF RELEASE OF YOUR PAYMENT

THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT A MAN CALLED MR.ROBERT WHITE FROM USA CAME TO OUR Bank TODAY CLAIMING TO BE FROM YOU, STATING THAT YOU ARE DEAD BUT

BEFORE YOUR DEATH YOU MADE HIM YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO CLAIM YOUR ATM CARD/FUND VALUED US$14.500.00 ( Fourteen million five hundred United States

Dollars Only).

NOW HERE COMES THE BIG QUESTION, DID YOU SIGN ANY DEED OF ASSIGNMENT IN FAVOR OF MR. ROBERT WHITE THEREBY MAKING HIM THE CURRENT BENEFICIARY WITH

HIS FOLLOWING CONTACT DETAILS: (7121 EDGETON ST; DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48212-1905, USA.).

WE SHALL PROCEED TO ISSUE ALL PAYMENT RELEASE DETAILS TO THE SAID ROBERT WHITE, IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WORKING DAYS FROM

TODAY. CONTACT ME BACK IMMEDIATELY THROUGH THIS PHONE NUMBER: +234-708-306-1395

THANKS FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED COOPERATION IN THIS REGARDS.

BEST REGARDS,

Mr.Jim Ovia.

Director Swift Wiring Department.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam