419 scam: "Mr.Michael S Gibson" <chinazaokere283@gmail.com> Attention Our Dear Customer,

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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:
- "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. )
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
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.
- sgibsonmichael@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Michael S Gibson" <chinazaokere283@gmail.com>
Reply-To: sgibsonmichael@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2023 07:58:34 +0000
Subject: Attention Our Dear Customer,

Attention Our Dear Customer,

I'm An Assistant Manager Money Gram & Money Branch Cotonou (UNITED
BANK OF AFRICA) Benin Republic, My Name Is Mr.Michael S Gibson, I am
responding back to you this morning to inform you that Our General
manager just passed away 14days ago (((Died))).

And all the files/documents was handed over to me yesterday, Luckily i
went through all the files and found out that you have incomplete
transfer in our custody,that's why I am writing to inform you that i
have some funds at hand to assist you to complete your transaction
here in our custody,but it's not yet complete and secondly you have to
assure me that after i help you on this matter, and as soon as you
receive your first installation payment that you will return my
supported money back to me?.

The reason why I want to help you out is because if this fund last for
more three months in our custody it will transfer to Government
account.
Therefore re-confirm your current address to our office.

1,Receiver's Name...........
2,current Telephone Number..
3,Country and City..........

Therefore, I need your urgent respond today so that we shall finalize
the transfer of your $4,000.000. Thanks and God bless as am looking
forward to hear from you as the funds beneficiary, remember that you
will only receive one payment a day until your total sum of $3
000.000.00 (Three Million United State Dollars ) is transferred to you
completely

Here is content email (sgibsonmichael@gmail.com)

THANKS FOR OUR PATRONAGE,

YOURS SINCERELY
Mr Michael S Gibson
ASSISTANT MANAGER MONEY GRAM

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam