419 scam: DONALD ENSHAW <enshaw5@gmail.com> CONFIDENTIAL

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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:
- "huge sum of money" (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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "observe utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "your humble assistance" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- +447045797581 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- enshaw7@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: DONALD ENSHAW <enshaw5@gmail.com>
Reply-To: enshaw4@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2011 07:11:00 -0300
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL

--
FROM MR. DONALD ENSHAW

Tel:+447045797581
E-mail: enshaw7@gmail.com

Dear sir,

I am Mr. Donald Enshaw director of foreign remittance; in a reputable bank
here in London. I, am contacting you while searching for a reliable
someone to contact for this transaction in regards to a business transfer
for a huge sum of money in a dormant account. I need your assistance to
transfer to overseas Twenty Five Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand
United States Dollars Only (US$25,550.000.00).

I am seeking your humble assistance to provide either an existing bank
account or set up a new Bank account to receive this fund, even an empty
account can serve this purpose, or you help to seek an honest and, reliable
businessman who can assist us. Though I know that a transaction of this
magnitude will make any one apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you
that this transaction is being handled by me, Been that I, am the heads of
this Department, It will be very easy and safety for me to make bank to
bank wire transfer without any delay That is Why i decided to contact you
due to the urgency of this transaction.

During the course of our auditing i discovered a floating fund in a
domiciliary account opened in the bank in 2001 and since 2001 to 2011
nobody has operated on this account, after going through some old files in
the records i discovered that the owner of the account who is a foreigner
died in Madrid Bombing of 11th of March 2004,without any traceable next of
kin hence the dormant nature of the account remains dormant , and if nobody
come to claim this funds it will be re- channel to government coffers as
unclaimed funds.
I am only contacting you as a foreigner that is capable to assist me in
transferring this funds,

I need your full co-operation to make this project a success, There is no
risk at all, the paperwork for this transaction will be done by an attorney
and in my position i can guarantees you a successful execution of this
transaction. If you are interested and i know that you will not sit on this
money after its successful transfer to you, please reply immediately and
upon your response, I shall provide you with more details on what to do.
Please observe utmost confidentiality and be rest assured that this
transaction would be most profitable for both of us.

Upon your response I will inform you on the steps ahead and your
compensation for providing an account for this transaction. If you find
yourself capable of working with me, contact me now.
Please observe this instruction with the utmost care. I send you this
letter not without a measure of fear as to what the consequences may be,
but I know within me that nothing ventured is nothing gained and that
success and riches never come easy or on a platter of gold.
If this proposal is acceptable by you, do not take undue advantage of the
trust I have bestowed in you, I await your response,

Yours faithfully
Mr. Donald Enshaw
Director of International Remittance.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam