419 scam: "Dr. Mark" <info@worldbank.com> THE MONEY

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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:
- "million 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)
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.
- centerpaid999@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Mark" <info@worldbank.com>
Reply-To: <paymentcenter258@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2024 16:03:50 -0800
Subject: THE MONEY

Pay attention to the message below,

This is to officially inform you for the last time of your payment of $20.5 million dollars which was approved last month.

but it has not been delivered to him due to his uncooperative attitude. We recently received an email from someone telling us that you

is dead and that he is his closest relative and requested that his funds be given to him. We are in doubt

his identity or relationship with you so we are writing to confirm whether he is dead or not. If you do not respond to this email

Within a week he is supposed to be dead as the claimant said.

For clarity, your funds ($20.5 million) are in the US bank, once we confirm that you are alive, they will be released to you.

via ATM CARD OR CASH CHECK OR ONLINE BANKING within 72 hours. Contact me via email (centerpaid999@gmail.com) for more details.

We need your complete information below if you are still alive.

Account number: .........
Account holder: .........
Owner's Address,city, state and country:......
Date of Birth of the Holder:..
State....................
Nationality..............
Closest relative .............
your email.................
your address .............
your direct call phone...
his age..................
copy of your ID..........

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,
Dr. Mark Dinish

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam