419 scam: INFO_SERVICE <ed92856@gmail.com> Attn'

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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:
- "money gram" (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. )
- "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)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: INFO_SERVICE <ed92856@gmail.com>
Reply-To: privateofficeemail38@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 31 May 2022 03:02:05 -0700
Subject: Attn'

Attention:

This is to let you know that we have received an instruction from the
WORLD BANK by orders of the Ministry of Finance Republique du Benin to
release your approved payment of $10.5 million dollars via Guaranty
Trust Bank Plc For Africa ATM VISA CARD which you will use to withdraw
your $10.5 million dollars from any ATM Machine in any part of the
world.I must thank you and assure you that Guaranty Trust Bank for
Africa has been approved and upgraded in your favor. The amount
upgraded in the ATM VISA CARD is $10.5 million dollars and your secret
pin number will be given to you once you received the card from us,
right now, invitation have been extended to you to visit Guaranty
Trust Bank Plc Republique du Benin for collection of your GTB ATM VISA
CARD and pin number so that you can activate it by yourself and start
withdrawing funds from any ATM machine in your country and the amount
you can withdraw in a day is $20,000, as we have programmed it.

Alternatively, if you are unable to visit Guaranty Trust Bank for
Africa Republique du Benin for collection of this your GTB ATM VISA
CARD and pin number, you must therefore pay for the delivery of your
GTB ATM VISA CARD to be sent to you via our diplomatic courier service
at your own expenses by offsetting the following payments such
as:Shipment fee of your GTB ATM VISA CARD to your address will cost
$355 Dollars. must be paid to enable us ship the GTB ATM VISA CARD to
your address to enable you start withdrawing your $10.5 million
dollars from any ATM Machine in any part of the world. This GTB ATM
VISA CARD must be insured so that it can get to you without any
problem and diversion.

So if you cannot come to Guaranty Trust Bank Plc Republique du Benin
for the collection of your GTB ATM VISA CARD, you must therefore
kindly go right now to money gram and send this shipment fee,
Total:You advised to use our PROTOCOL OFFICER'S NAME or details below
and write your MTCN number down and your sender name bellow down the
details:

Receiver's Name=========Hassan Bashiru
Country================Republique du Benin
City===================Cotonou
Text question===========Noon
Text answer============Moon
Amount Total:===========$355
Mtcn===================
Sender=================

As soon as the fee is received, we shall immediately dispatch the GTB
ATM VISA CARD to you and it will take only 24 hrs to arrive to your
address to enable you start withdrawing funds that same day from any
ATM Machine nearest to you. Thank your understanding and we are
waiting for your quick reply and the payment information for the
delivery of your GTB ATM VISA CARD.

Remain Bless for your Co-operating with us into (GTB).

Yours in service.
MRS. CHIGERE G MOGARN
Guaranty Trust Bank Plc Republique du Benin ATM Department Center.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam