419 scam: INFO ENQUIRY <infoenquiry13@gmail.com> Foreign Operations Department

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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:
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "there are practically no risks involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "inland revenue" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- infoenquiries@caramail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: INFO ENQUIRY <infoenquiry13@gmail.com>
Reply-To: infoescrow@mail.com
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2023 03:28:34 -0700
Subject: Foreign Operations Department

--
Foreign Operations Department
African Development Bank
Togo West Africa.

Attention: Dear,

I want to drop you a quick note because I did not hear back from you
concerning the information I sent you the other day. In case you did not
receive the letter introducing my intent My name is Mr.George Frank, I am
the regional manager of African Development Bank Lome branch in the western
region of Togo.

Sequel to the release of the third quarter financial report, ending
December, 2022, I discovered that my branch made Eighteen Million Five
hundred thousand united state dollars ($18.5m) from the transactions
accruing to the account of the Inland Revenue Service (IRS).I intentionally
delayed the fund until now to make sure I cleared all link to this money
before contacting you and is absolutely free from any Drug Trafficking and
Anti-terrorist link and can be converted into any type of Currency of your
choice before the effect of the transfer.I am compelled to do this because
I would not want the Finance company to push this funds (US$18.5m)into
their treasury as unclaimed inheritance.

But before that I have diverted the funds into what the bank called Escrow
Call Account with no beneficiary. Meanwhile as you know I can not be
directly connected to this money for obvious reasons. So my contacting you
is to assist me receive the funds in your bank account in your country;
which I know is possible if you liaise properly with me and I guarantee you
get 40% of the total funds as your benefit, for helping me to pull the fund
out.The transfer would be via swift and it will be a Bank-to-Bank wired
transfer. All I need from you is to stand claim as the original depositor
of this fund. I will compute your particulars as the person who made the
deposit in my branch, so that my head office will immediately order the
transfer to your designated bank account upon your application/request for
transfer.

There are practically no risks involved, all I need from you is to stand
claim as the original depositor of these funds who made the deposit with my
branch so that my head office can order the transfer to your designated
bank account. I have put in place all necessary requirements concerning the
release of this funds and it is my intention to introduce this opportunity
to you as the beneficiary. Can I give you this financial trust as a
trustee/stake holder?

Upon your response including your direct cellphone number/nationality and
contact details which i will use to get you the application form from the
bank, so that you will contact the Bank for the transfer of this money into
your account,I shall then provide you with more details and relevant
information please confirm the receipt of this message to my alternative
e-mail:( infoenquiries@caramail.com ) for more details

I will appreciate it very much. reply me so that we can go over the details.

Thank you in advance and May God bless you and your family.
Yours truly
Mr.George Frank

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam