419 scam: "Zenith Bank Plc"<mwfield@charter.net> Dear Beneficiary

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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:
- "insurance fee " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "mtcn" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million dollars" (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)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "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.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: "Zenith Bank Plc" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <zenitbk321@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 5 Apr 2022 09:23:03 -0700
Subject: Dear Beneficiary

Dear Beneficiary:

This is to let you know that we have received an instruction from the United Nation by orders of these Bank to release your Approved payment of US$26.5 Million Dollars via ATM cash Card which you will use to withdraw your US$26.5 Million Dollars from any ATM Machine in any part of the world. I must thank you and assure you that ATM Card has been approved and upgraded in your favor today. The amount upgraded in the ATM CARD is US$26.5 Million Dollars and your secret pin number is xxxx,

Right now,Invitation have been extended to you to visit these Bank for collection of your ATM cash Card and PIN NUMBER so that you can activate it by yourself and start withdrawing funds from any ATM Machine in your country but the amount you can withdraw in a day is $5,000 dollars per day as we have programmed it.

Alternatively, if you are unable to visit these Bank for collection of this y our ATM cash Card and PIN NUMBER, you must therefore apply for the ATM cash Card and PIN NUMBER to be sent to you via our diplomatic courier service at your own expenses by-offsetting the following payments such as; (1) Shipment fee of the ATM cash Card to your address amounting to US$90.00. (2)Insurance Coverage of the ATM cash Card amounting to USDS$100.00.

Both payments is the sum of US$190.00 must be paid to enable us ship the ATM cash Card to your address to enable you start withdrawing your US$26.5 Million Dollars from any ATM machine in any part of the world.

This ATM cash Card must be insured so that it can get to you without any problem and diversion. This is because this ATM cash Card that can be use to withdraw funds from any ATM Machine in every part of the world.Package Contents:
ATM card,Certificate and Security Documents.

Weight of Original Certificate: 1.13kg
Weight of ATM CARD: 0.6g
Total weight of Parcel: 0.18g
Total Net weight of Parcel: 0.20g
Colour of Parcel: brown
Parcel Packaging: Bonded

So, if you cannot come to These BANK for collection of your ATM cash Card, you must therefore kindly go right now To western union or money gram and send this shipment and insurance fee of US$190.00 via Western Union Money transfer or money gram with the details below And write your MTCN number

As soon as the fee is received, we shall immediately dispatch the ATM cash Card to you and it will take only 2 days to arrive to your address to enable you start withdrawing funds that same day from any ATM machine nearest to you.

Thanks for your understanding and we are waiting for your quick reply
and the payment information.

Best Regards,
Chairman, Zenith Bank Plc, Nigeria.
Plot 84, Ajose Adeogun Street,
Victoria Island, Lagos
Dr Jude Okere

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam