419 scam: "COMPENSATION UNIT" <lucy@specialtysupplies.com> Congratulations.

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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:
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
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.
- +2348169893645
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.
- zenithbankplc1972@yahoo.co.uk (Yahoo, United Kingdom; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- send acopy of your response to official email: zenithbankplc1972@yahoo.co.uk or zenithbankplc1973@yahoo.co.uk attn:sir/madam, this (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "COMPENSATION UNIT" <lucy@specialtysupplies.com>
Reply-To: zenithbankplc1972@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2014 01:29:44 -0800
Subject: Congratulations.

- This mail is in HTML. Some elements may be ommited in plain text. -

ZENITH BANK COMPENSATION UNIT, IN AFFILIATION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS. Send acopy of your response to official
email:
zenithbankplc1972@yahoo.co.uk
or
zenithbankplc1973@yahoo.co.uk
ATTN:Sir/Madam,
This mail serves as a listening ear to the victims of scam the world
over. We have been having a meeting for the past 7 months which ended
2 days ago with the secretary general of the United Nations
Organization.
This message is to all the people that have been victimized / scammed in any part of the world, the United Nations have agreed to compensate them each with the sum of US$500,000. 00. from the recovered sum of $500 million so far. This includes every foreign contractors that may not have received their contract sum, and people that have had an unfinished transaction or international businesses that failed due to Government problems etc. We have a database of victims which you are among the list and that are why we are contacting you to receive your compensation accordingly.
This has been deliberated upon and is among our set of priorities in
making the world a better place. You are advised to contact Mr.Emmanuel Udom of ZENITH BANK PLC, as he is our representative in Nigeria, contact him immediately for your Cheque / International Bank Draft of USD$500,000. This funds are in Bank Draft for security purpose. It will be sent to you and you can
clear it in any bank of your choice.
Therefore, you should send him your full Name, telephone number, a
valid mailing address where you want him to send your Bank Draft to.
Contact Mr.Emmanuel Udom immediately for your Cheque:
Email:
..zenithbankplc1972@yahoo.co.uk
or
zenithbankplc1973@yahoo.co.uk
Tel : +234-8169-893-645
Making the world a better place
Regards,
Department of Public Information, United Nations 2014

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam