419 scam: "Mrs. Sonia Zahumenska"<test@mezen.ru> KINDLY READ AND RESPOND ASAP

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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:
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- +441204238477
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.
- barristermichaeljohnson1107@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Sonia Zahumenska" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barristermichaeljohnson1107@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2019 08:08:16 -0800
Subject: KINDLY READ AND RESPOND ASAP

Good day,

I am Mrs. Sonia Zahumenska,a US citizen,and am 48 years.I reside here in New Jersey,United States.I am thinking of relocating as I am now rich.I am among those that took part in the lottery prize Winnings and Compensations in Europe some years ago and they refused to pay me.I paid over £120,000.00 GBP while in the United States trying to get my payment all to no avail.I decided to travel down to Europe,United Kingdom with all my lottery prize Winning documents and i was directed to meet Barrister Michael Johnson, who is the head of lottery Award winnings Committee.I contacted him and he explained everything to me. He said that those contacting me through electronic email before are fake because the lottery prize winning/Inheritance/Compensation Law clearly states that the beneficiary/recipient is exempt from paying any out of pocket fees or charges to receive the said funds.

Michael Johnson took me to the paying bank where i presented all my rightful documents.Right now I am the most happiest woman on earth because I have received my lottery winning fund in the amount of £38,000.000.00 {Thirty eight million Great British pound sterling only ]. Moreover,the attorney Michael showed me the full information of those that are yet to receive their payments and I saw your email address as one of the beneficiaries,that is reason I decided to email you to stop dealing with those people,they are not with your funds, they are only making money out of you.

I will advise you to contact Barrister Michael Johnson directly on this information below.
Name: Michael Johnson
Tel: +44 1204 238 477
Email: barristermichaeljohnson1107@gmail.com

The only money I paid after I contacted Attorney Michael Johnson was only the Signings/stamping of the documents and attorney consultation fees. I will advise you to contact Barrister Michael Johnson so that he can help you process and send your fund instead of dealing with those liars that will be turning you around asking for different kind of money to complete your transaction.

Remain Blessed.
Yours Mrs. Sonia Zahumenska

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam