419 scam: " {Spam!}

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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "demurrage " (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. )
- "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. )
- "deadline" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "vat (5%)" (VAT rate in the UK is 17.5%, check the math)
- "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)
- "pietra@mantiqueira.com.br" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
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: "
Reply-To: <dl621345@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2023 07:55:06 +0530 (IST)
Subject: {Spam!}

Mr.Emmanuel Ib"<pietra@mantiqueira.com.br>
Subject: Attention Customer From Zenith Bank of Africa.
Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2023 04:25:52 +0200
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="Windows-1251"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
X-Priority: 3
X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2600.0000
X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2600.0000

From the Desk Of:

Mr.Emmanuel Ibe

Director ATM Department

Zenith Bank of Africa.

Attention Valued Customer ,

This is to officially inform you that we acknowledge the receipt of your e-mail regarding the delivery of your ATM CARD, note that your card is out now ready to be delivered to your door step and I will forward the serial number and the pin code to you. The card is a MasterCard codified. Now honestly you are advice to take care of the delivery charges which will cost you according to the delivery company that wish to deliver your card to you immediately.

However, it is the pleasure of this office to inform you that your ATM CARD number; is 73252980027661311 has been approved and upgraded in your favor.

Meanwhile, you call me for the pin code and the ATM CARD value is us$10 Million only. You are advised that a maximum withdrawal value of US$10,000 is permitted daily. And we are duly inter-switched and you can make withdrawal in any location of the ATM center of your choice/nearest to you. We have also concluded every necessary arrangement concerning the delivery with our accredited courier service company to be fully insured and oversee the delivery of the ATM CARD to you without any further delay.

Be informed that delivery will be made to your address within 15 hours of our confirmation of this payment. Also be aware that the delivery fee receipt will be attached to your payment delivery documents to avoid being delayed by the customs, meanwhile your valid I.D card must be presented to the delivery company before the CARD will be delivered to you to avoid any wrong delivery of this package.

Furthermore With regards to your choice of claims, you are required to select the most convenient of the three courier options below that will deliver your ATM CARD to your door step:

Options:

FedEx Corporation, your single source for time-sensitive and time-deferred package, document, and freight transportation services international

FedEx (2working days)

Mailing & bps $150.00

Insurance..................... ........$130.00

Vat (5%).......................... ....$113.00

Total......................... ........$393.00

UPS UPS (2working days)

Mailing &n bsp; $135.00

Insurance..................... ........$115.00

Vat (5%).......................... ....$210.00

Total......................... ........$460.00

DHL UK Home (2working days)

Mailing &n bps; $139.00

Insurance................. $125.00

Vat (5%).................. $219.00

Total...................... $483.00

Note that your card is protected by a hardcover Insurance Policy (Courtesy NICON Insurance group, Nigeria) which makes it impossible to deduct any amount from the money before releasing to you. This means that the above charges cannot be deducted from the card and hence must be provided by you before your card is dispatched to your door step in your country.

Please respond to this email by making a selection from the options above.

However, be reminded that the deadline for the claiming of funds is exactly one week after the receipt of this email. After this period, you will encounter demurrage for keeping your ATM CARD in our custody for too long.

You are required to make a selection that is reachable to your destination.

You are advised to send the fees via western union through our receiver’s officer name stated below.

Receiver Name: .................... Eneda Ijeoma Priscilla

Receiver Address: .................. Lagos Nigeria

Send the MTCN number together with the name and address of the sender to this office for the money to be picked up as soon as you send the money via western union.

Treat as very urgent, as we also remind you once again that your ATM CARD is ready.

Sincerely,

From the Desk Of:

Mr.Emmanuel Ibe

Zenith Bank of Africa

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam