419 scam: "Mr. Clem Bowen"<test@central.mercfresh.com> Compliment of the day my dear96.70,

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "foreign exchange" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "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.
- +22966758275 (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.
- frednickson4@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Clem Bowen" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <frednickson4@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2022 10:23:07 -0800
Subject: Compliment of the day my dear96.70,

From the Desk of

Mr. Clem Bowen

Compliment of the day my dear,

We write to inform you that your ACCUMULATION COVID-19 RELIEF FUND

valued US$3.5M (Three Million Five Hundred Thousand United States

Dollars) has been scheduled and will be release to you after due

process. It is also important to note that from our records that you

are required to confirm your information to the accredited office of

African Union Payment Clearing Center for verification and

authenticity of the formal information.

The United Nations in collaboration with African Union Payment

Clearing Center has been instructed to use the approved Foreign

Exchange Allocation Order (FEAO) to

clear all outstanding payment with immediate effect. It's more

legalized manner for you to communicate with African Union Payment

Clearing Center in the person of Mr.

Green to ensure that your payment file is process in accordingly. You

are hereby advice to contact the Mr. Peter Green for final processing

and release your payment.

Contact Person: Mr. Peter Green

E-mail: frednickson4@gmail.com

Phone number: 00229-66758275

You will either receive your funds through Swift Transfer, Certified

International Bank Draft Cheque Or ATM Master Card. Be inform that any

option you choose has an

official charge to process your transfer.

Below are the given options to choose:

(1) Wire Transfer: Minimum of 5 business days (You will be charge for

international transaction)

(2) ATM Master Card: 7days (You will be charge for Delivery)

NOTE: The Official Charge can't be deduct from the principal amount

due to the Irrevocable Insurance Policy (IIP) associated with your

fund from International Monitory

Fund Unit (IMF).

This is subject you can discuss with Mr. Peter Green by quoting the

following reference to him (UN-AU33NO22/019). To this end, we urge you

to establish contact with

Mr. Green to make necessary arrangements for the payment of your funds.

Yours Faithfully

Mr. Clem Bowen

The information in this email may be confidential and/or legally privileged. It has been sent for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not an intended recipient, you are strictly prohibited from reading, disclosing, distributing, copying or using this email or any of its contents, in any way whatsoever. If you have received this email in error, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message. Please also be advised that emails are not a secure form for communication, and may contain errors.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam