419 scam: "Mr.MIKE OBI." <ceciledwards@sbcglobal.net> ZENITH BANK INTERNATIONAL

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "activation 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. )
- "cotonou" (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.
- +22998653377 (Benin, probably a 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.
- dhl_courier_cp4@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.MIKE OBI." <ceciledwards@sbcglobal.net>
Reply-To: dhl_courier_cp4@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 27 Feb 2010 08:16:29 -0800 (PST)
Subject: ZENITH BANK INTERNATIONAL

ZENITH BANK INTERNATIONAL
zenith HeightsPlot 87 Ajose Adeogun Street,
Cotonou Republic Of Benin.
Attn:Payment Notification,

This is to bring to your notice that, I have paid the re-activation fee and the delivery of your ATM.I paid it because the
ATM Card 8119 $850.000.00 usd,has less three days to expire and when it expires,the money will go into Government purse.With
that I decided to help you pay the money so that,the ATM will not expire,because I know when you get your ATM definitely you
must pay me back my money and even compensate me for helping you.

Now i want you to contact DHL Delivery Service with your Full Contact informations so that they can deliver your Card to your
designated address without any delay. Like i stated earlier, The delivery charges has been paid but i did not pay their
official keeping fees since they refused. They refused and the reason is that they do not know when you are going to contact
them and dumurrage might have increase.

They told me that their keeping fees is 25usd per day and i deposited it on friday this week.

Below is their Contact Informations,
Contact Person: Emmanuel Okeke
DHL Delivery Service
Email: (dhl_courier_cp4@yahoo.com)
Tel: +229 98 65 33 77

Contact them Today to avoid increase of their keeping fees and let me know once you receive your Card.
Yours
Mr.MIKE OBI.

ATM OFFICE
ZENITH BANK INTERNATIONAL

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam