419 scam: "Mrs. Faith Boni" <officemichelle12@gmail.com> ZENITH BANK INTERNATIONAL

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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:
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
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.
- +22998755746 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Faith Boni" <officemichelle12@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dhlcourierservices97@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2015 03:31:13 -0800
Subject: ZENITH BANK INTERNATIONAL

ZENITH BANK INTERNATIONAL,
Zenith Heights Plot 87 Ajose
Adeogun Street,Cotonou Benin Republic
Attn:Payment Notification,

This is to bring to your notice that your ATM MASTER CARD worth $4.5m
has been approved for payment.
To this effect,the appropriate authorities (Economic Community of West
African States and American Government) has decided to
deliver CARD to foreign clients through ZENITH BANK INTERNATIONAL only
due to a lot of complaints that beneficiaries are not receiving their
payment after fees has been paid.

You are being legally contacted regarding the release of your fund.
After a detailed review of your file,IMF, United Nation Monetary Unit,
World Bank and the US
Homeland Security Department has been Authorized to release your fund
(ATM MASTER CARD) immediately.
The sum of ($4.5m) has been approved and have been released in your
favour through ZENITH BANK INTERNATIONAL.

N/BI have paid delivery fee of your ATM MASTER CARD (code 8119) to DHL
DELIVERY COMPANY,I paid it because the ATM MASTER CARD worth 4.5
million, has less than three days to expire,and when it expires,the
money inside will go in to

government purse.With that i decided to help you pay the money so that
the ATM MASTER CARD will not expire,because I know that when you get
your ATM MASTER CARD definitely you must pay me back my money and even
compensate me for helping you.

Now i want you to contact DHL DELIVERY COMPANY with your full delivery
information's such as
(1) Your Full Name,
(2) Your Country,
(3) Your Direct Telephone Numbers,
(4) Your Nearest Air Port,
(5) Your Home Address,
(6) Your ID card
so that they can deliver your ATM MASTER CARD to your designated home
address without any more delay.like i stated earlier,the delivery
charges has been paid but i did not pay their official keeping fee
charges since they refused.

The reason is that they do not know when you are going to contact them
and the dummorage might have increase.They told me that their keeping
fee charges is $85,per day and i deposited it yesterday being
19/6/2015.
call him as soon as you receive this email.

Below is their contact Information's
Contact person: Jeffry Dom,
DHL DELIVERY COMPANY
Phone number: +229 98755746

contact them today to avoid increase of their official keeping
fee.Call me once you receive your ATM MASTER CARD.
Best Regards
MRS; ANGELA REETZ
ATM VISA AND MASTER CARD OFFICE ZENITH BANK INTERNATIONAL
Federal Republic of Benin West Africa.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam