419 scam: "Miss. Brenda Smith" <info@sivit.org> 185.187.72.154

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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:

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. )
- "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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
- "i am using this medium to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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.
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: "Miss. Brenda Smith" <info@sivit.org>
Reply-To: Brendasmithm@outlook.com
Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2024 04:30:29 -0700
Subject: 185.187.72.154

THE TOTAL OF FUND WE ARE GOING TRANSFER TO YOU IS $5.8 MILLION

Information reaching us from our Western Union Corporate Headquarters now, States that you only have 48hours to effect payment for the activation of your $5.800,000:00 USD to enable you cash up your total (fund) since you are finding it difficult to make the total payment, We have decided that you are to go ahead and pay whatever you have for the activation fee since you are not able to come up with the total required FEE. Time is of the essence here. You are to pay whatever you have as activation fee; we will activate your fund upon receipt of this payment to enable you to receive your first daily 5,000:00 USD transfer from any Western Union center around you today. Be informed that you will have to pay the balance sum of your activation upon cashing up your first payment

Also I am using this medium to inform you that failure to pay the balance sum will leave us with no option but to deactivate your fund of which you will and can never cash up your total sum again if you don`t observe western union procedure. I want you to use Western Union to send whatever you have for the activation fee with the information Below to the country origin of your funds

Receiver name: Nze Chuks
Receiver city: COTONOU.
Receiver country: BENIN.
Country code: 229.
Text question: COLOUR.
Text answer: BLUE.
Amount: YOU CAN PAY ANY AMOUNT YOU HAVE NOW.
(M.T.C.N) Money Transfer Control Number ::::::::
Sender's name ::::::::

Kindly reconfirm to him the following below information:

Your full name__________________
Your address______________________
Your country________________________
Your Phone number_____________________
Your ID______________________

I will instruct you about the information which is needed from you as soon as you send the fee so we can activate your first payment release:
Send us the MTCN number, Sender Address, immediately you send the money and immediately we confirm the activation fee, I will transfer you the fund immediately today I promise you as soon as we hear from you with the payment of ANY AMOUNT YOU ARE DIRECTED to send today, we shall send your first payment of $5,000.00 for you to pick up with the information you need to receive your payment the same day you send the payment of ANY AMOUNT and I swear you will receive your payment immediately

Miss. Brenda Smith
Head Office Operations Manager.
WhatsApp phone line is +254 773 135463
EMAIL ME HERE... Brendasmithm@outlook.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam