419 scam: johnelac5@gmail.com (no subject)

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "demurrage " (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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "deadline" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "vat (5%)" (VAT rate in the UK is 17.5%, check the math)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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!
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.

Fraud email example:

From: johnelac5@gmail.com
Date:
Subject:

From the Desk Of
Mr.Emmanuel Ibe
Director ATM Department
Zenith Bank of Africa

Attention Valued Customer ,

This is to officially informing you that we acknowledge the
respite of your e-mail regarding the delivery of your ATM CARD,
note that your card is out now ready to be delivered to your door
step and I will forward the serial number and the pin code to
you. The card is a master card codified. Now honestly you are
advice to take care of the delivery charges which will cost you
according to the delivery company that wish to deliver your card
to you immediately.
However, it is the pleasure of this office to inform you that
your ATM CARD number; is 73252980027661311 and it has been
approved and upgraded in your favor.

Meanwhile, you cell me for the pin code numbers. The ATM CARD
value is us$10 Million only. You are advised that a maximum
withdrawal value of us$10,000 is permitted daily. And we are duly
inter-switched and you can make withdrawal in any location of the
ATM center of your choice/nearest to you. We have also concluded
very necessary arrangement concerning the delivery with our
accredited courier service company to be fully insured and
oversee the delivery of the ATM CARD to you without any further
delay.

be informed that delivery will be made to your address within 15
hours of our confirmation of this payment. Also be aware that the
delivery fee receipt will be attached to your payment delivery
documents to avoid being delayed by the customs, meanwhile your
valid I.D card must be presented to the delivery company before
the CARD will be delivered to you to avoid any wrong delivery
upon the delivered this package,

Furthermore With regards to your choice of claims, you are
required to select the most convenient of the three courier
options below that will delivered your ATM CARD to your door step
in via any of the channels listed below:

Options:

FedExCorporation, your single source fortime-sensitive and time-
deferredpackage, document, and freighttransportation
servicesinternationally.FedEx(2working days)
Mailing &n bps; $ 150.00
Insurance..................... ........$130.00
Vat (5%).......................... ....$113.00
Total......................... ........$393.00

UPS UPS(2working days)
Mailing &n bsp; $135.00
Insurance..................... ........$115.00
Vat (5%).......................... ....$210.00
Total......................... ........$460.00

DHL UK Home(2working days)
Mailing &n bps; 139.00
Insurance................. $125.00
Vat (5%).................. $219.00
Tot.....................$483.00

Note that your card is protected by a hardcover insurance policy
(courtesy nicon insurance group, Nigeria) which makes it
impossible to deduct any amount from the money before releasing
to you. This means that the above charges cannot be deducted from
the card and hence must be provided by you before your card is
dispatched to your door step in your country

Please respond to this email by making a selection from the
options above.

However, be reminded that the deadline for the claiming of funds
is exactly one week after the receipt of this email. After this
period, you will encounter demurrage for keeping your ATM CARD in
our custody for too long.

You are required to make a selection that is reachable to your
destination.
Be advices to send the fees via western union through our
receivers officer name stated below.

Receiver Name: .................... Eneda Ijeoma Priscilla
Receiver Address: .................. Lagos Nigeria

Send the MTCN number together with the name and address of the
sender to this office for the money to be picked up as soon as
you send the money via western union.

Treat as very urgent, as we also remind you once again that your
ATM CARD is ready.

Sincerely,

From the Desk Of:
Mr.Emmanuel Ibe
Zenith Bank of Africa

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam