419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "fund beneficiary" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- +2348071261790 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- mr.jimovia58@rocketmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: ZENITH@lyra.deusto.es, BANK@lyra.deusto.es,
INTERNATIONAL@lyra.deusto.es, PLC@lyra.deusto.es,
LAGOS-NIGERIA. <mr.jimovia48@aol.com>
Reply-To: mr.jimovia58@rocketmail.com
Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2012 17:47:37 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Good Day: Fund Beneficiary,

ZENITH BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC, LAGOS-NIGERIA.
Zenith Holdings Plc
8 Canada Square.
Victoria Island Lagos Airport
Road E14 5HQ. Nigeria.
E-mail: mr.jimovia58@rocketmail.com
Telephone: (+234-807-126-1790)

Your Response is needed Urgently,

Good Day: Fund Beneficiary,

This is to inform you that two gentle men (Mr. Crawler Edward and Mr.Knight Powell) came to my office this morning with a doctors report and a power of attorney from your lawyer, stating that you had a fatal accident along 10325 North Central Expressway, Dallas, TX 75231 and died, and before your sudden death, you made Mr. Crawler Edward your beneficiary (next of kin) authorizing/instructing him to claim your contract/inheritance funds,valued the sum of US$4.2Million (Four Million Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollar) that was long overdue for payment in your name, from our bank (ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC LAGOS-NIGERIA) we want to verify Mr. Crawler Edward claim, before we transfer the fund us$4.2million into his account number below.

(i) Did you authorize Mr. Crawler Edward to come for your claim?
(ii) Are you truly Dead OR Alive?

If (NO) you are hereby advice as a matter of urgency to reconfirm the details of this message within 48hours, hence your funds shall be wired into Mr. Crawler Edward account without any more delay.

Lastly, you are advice to reconfirm the details of this message and get
back immediately with these information\'s
Below..

1. Full name:................

2. Direct telephone number:...

3. Address:................ Country.... ..........

4. Your personal identification to enable us confirms you are not dead.

This information\'s above must be provided for reconfirmation to Enable us make payment to you, hence, your funds will be remit/wire into Mr. Crawler Edward account as already provide to this management.

We wait for your urgent response. You need to act very fast, because
if this bank wait for your urgent reply within three working days and did not received any message from you, you will be consider dead, and your funds us$4.2million will be transferred into Mr. Crawler Edward account below.

Here is an account provide by Mr. Crawler Edward to this bank, are you also the one who asked him to provide this bank account to us?

Washington Mutual Bank
2075 S. Victoria Ave
Ventura, CA 93003
800 788-7000
Acct. name: Mr. Crawler Edward.
Type: Checking
ABA # 322271627
Acct # 1951204345
Amount: US$4.2Million.

Furthermore, this bank discovered that you have been dealing with some bad eggs officials whom SCAMMED some money from you without doing the right thing, Be advice to STOP further communication with them, your funds is now approved for payment, follow the right procedure now.

This message demand urgent attention, the bank is waiting to hear from you;

Send your reply to my e-mail: mr.jimovia58@rocketmail.com

Regards,
Mr. Jim Ovia.
Head of Accounting Operations
(ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam