419 scam: "Mrs. Ruth Daniel .M ." <sarmisbal@zb.lv> Attn: Account Holder,

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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:
- "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. )
- "moneygram" (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. )
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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.
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.
MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- arinaitweignatius2015@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Ruth Daniel .M ." <sarmisbal@zb.lv>
Reply-To: arinaitweignatius2015@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2017 22:13:14 +0200
Subject: Attn: Account Holder,

--

Attn: Account Holder,

This is to notify you that a new development has been made by today in
which the Republic Bank which is called United Bank for Africa(UBA)
which has been holding your funds all this while has been ordered to
release it to you. The bank has created an online bank account on your
behalf and the online bank account has been funded with the total sum
of $8,500,000.00 USD in which you would be able to withdraw any amount
of money daily from the online account, Please what Ever you want to
Ask make sure that You Copy this Email Below and send Me email to this
email in Bracket
(arinaitweignatius2015@gmail.com)

Below are the online bank account details

Welcome! To - UBA Bank Online Plc Secure Account Page
Activate
2017-01-09
Created Opened Account
Balance $8,500,000,00 USD
Sort Code. 00169381101-43372 1020-03-8733
Swift Code PNBPUS33
Account Number 1010169857504

The bank has also stated that you could be able to start accessing the
online bank account once the transfer code has been issued to you and
this code will be issued to you at the sum of $205 USD.The bank has
also directed that the payment should be sent through Western Union
Money Transfer or MoneyGram Transfer with the below details.

Receiver Name:... James Aka
Country:.... Benin Republic
City:... Porto-Novo
Amount: $205 USD.
MTCN Number...
Senders Name...

Send the following details to me as soon as you make the payment which
are senders name and address, MTCN Number,Text Question and Answer Used
and the amount sent.

Once the payment of $205 USD has been received by today, then the bank
would issue the TRANSFER CODE/TRANSFER PIN to you which you would use to
make the final transfer to any bank account of your choice. I would be
waiting for the details as directed as soon as possible, To This Email
in Bracket (arinaitweignatius2015@gmail.com).

THANKS FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION.

Respectively
Rev. Arinaitwe Ignatius
Assistant Director.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam