419 scam: "DR. (MRS.) ROOT MAYER"<renee@pwhome.com> Good day,

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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "certificate 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. )
- "security keeping 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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "mosesfasiku@gtb-bplc.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- +2348033506992 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "DR. (MRS.) ROOT MAYER" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <atmcentre@gtb-bplc.com>
Date: Sun, 2 May 2010 11:18:23 +0100
Subject: Good day,

Good day,

I have been waiting for you to contact me for your ATM card Valued of of $1m
United States Dollars,but I did not hear from you since that time.

Then I went and deposited the ATM card and associate document with Guarantee Trust Bank, West Africa, I traveled out of the country for official assignment and may not be back for a long time. What you have to do now is to contact the Guarantee Trust Bank as soon as possible to know when they will deliver your package to you because of the expiring date.

For your information, I have paid for the delivering Charge, Insurance premium and Clearance Certificate Fee of the ATM showing that it is not Drug Money or meant to sponsor Terrorist attack in your Country. The only money you will send to the Guarantee Trust Bank to deliver your ATM card direct to your postal Address in your country is US$180 Dollars only being Security Keeping Fee of Guarantee Trust Bank so far.Again, don't be deceived by anybody to pay any other money except US$180 as any other fee asked from you is a hoax. I would have paid that but they said no because they dont know when you will contact them and in case of demurrage. You have to contact the Guarantee Trust Bank now for the delivery of your ATM card with this information bellow:

Mr Moses Fasiku
Remittance Manager
Email: mosesfasiku@gtb-bplc.com
Tell: +234-80335-06992

Also, make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address(s) and Direct telephone number to them again to avoid any mistake on the Delivery and ask them to give you the tracking number as soon as you have paid the $180 to enable you track your package over there and know when it will get to your address. Let me repeat again, try to contact them as soon as you receive this mail to avoid any further delay and remember to pay them their Security safe Keeping fee of US$180 Dollars for their immediate action.You should also let me know through email as soon as you receive your ATM card.

Yours Faithfully,

DR. (MRS.) ROOT MAYER
International Online Lottery Co-coordinator.
© 2010 ECOWAS WORLD INTERNET PROGRAMS®

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam