Scammers continue to use fake business names and promises of large sums of money to lure victims into paying fraudulent fees. The latest scam involves an email impersonating ZUMARK RESOURCES COMPANY LTD, claiming that the recipient is entitled to $2.5 million USD. However, before receiving the funds, the recipient must pay an upfront fee using gift cards or cryptocurrency. Below, we expose the scam and explain how to protect yourself.
The Scam Email Details
From: Mr. Davidson [email protected]
Sent: 29 March 2025 12:43
Subject: Your urgent and fast response is highly needed
Reply-To: [email protected]
Original Scam Email Content:
Attn: Please.
I am Mr John Davidson Secretary of ZUMARK RESOURCES COMPANY LTD. I want to let you know that my Boss Dr. Harry Crews advised me to send your share of 2.500 Million USD. I kept mailing you since yesterday but your email has been showing me failure delivery since then till today.
I need to know how I can send the Compensation payment to you because my Boss wanted to travel out of the Country this morning and he will not come back till next month. Please choose either by Western Union / Money Gram/ Bank Wire Transfer or Courier Company while respond to me through my private email address of ([email protected]) Because I have verified the costs of them and below is what I got:
WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER: RE-ACTIVATION OF FILE CHARGES: $49.00
MONEYGRAM INTERNATIONAL MONEY TRANSFER: $50.00
BANK TO BANK WIRE TRANSFER CHARGES: $100.00
DHL DELIVERY CHARGES TO YOUR HOUSE: $70.00
Choose one of the above Money Orders while I await your response.
You are to send the needed fee through Gift card (iTunes, Steam Wallet, Nordstrom, or eBay) or Bitcoin wallet address.
Have a nice weekend and remain bless.
Regards,
Mr. John Davidson.
Breaking Down the Scam
This email contains multiple red flags that indicate it is a scam. Here’s what to watch for:
- Fake Business Name: There is no legitimate company named ZUMARK RESOURCES COMPANY LTD involved in sending out compensation payments.
- Suspicious Sender and Reply-To Address: The email is sent from [email protected], which has no connection to any financial institution, and the reply-to email is a generic Gmail address ([email protected]).
- Upfront Payment Requirement: No real financial institution or compensation program requires recipients to pay a fee to claim their money.
- Unusual Payment Methods: The scammer asks for payments in gift cards or Bitcoin, which are untraceable and non-refundable.
- Urgency and Pressure: The email claims that the boss is leaving the country, pushing the recipient to act quickly.
- Poor Grammar and Formatting: Legitimate business emails do not contain typos, poor grammar, and awkward phrasing.
Why This Scam Works
Scammers prey on people’s hope of receiving unexpected financial windfalls. They create a sense of urgency, claiming that the recipient must act fast before losing their chance. By requesting gift cards or cryptocurrency, they ensure that victims cannot reverse the transaction or recover their money.
How to Protect Yourself
- Verify the Sender – Always check the sender’s email address. Legitimate companies do not use free email services like Gmail or random domains.
- Never Pay to Receive Money – Any request for upfront fees to claim lottery winnings, inheritance, or compensation is a scam.
- Look for Red Flags – Poor grammar, suspicious email addresses, and payment requests via gift cards or cryptocurrency are all warning signs.
- Research the Company – Search online for the company’s name along with terms like “scam” or “fraud” to see if others have reported similar scams.
- Report the Scam – If you receive a similar email, do not respond. Instead, report it to your local fraud agency, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), or Action Fraud.
Conclusion
The ZUMARK RESOURCES COMPANY LTD Compensation Scam is another example of scammers attempting to steal money by promising victims a large payout in exchange for an upfront fee. Remember: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Stay vigilant, educate others, and report scams to help prevent financial fraud.
Stay safe, stay informed – with FraudExpose.com.
Reply Email Used by Scammers: [email protected]