419 scam: "Dr. Gaius Obaseki"<drgiusobaseki@aol.com> Read Carefully and Treat as Urgent ......

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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:
- "million us 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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Gaius Obaseki" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gius009@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 24 Feb 2010 04:47:53 -0800
Subject: Read Carefully and Treat as Urgent ......

Good Day,

I hope my email meets you well. My name is Dr. Gaius Obaseki, Former Group Managing Director Nigeria National Petroleum Co-operation. I have about $31 Million US dollars which is presently in a bank United State and United Kingdom. I have made necessary arrangement on how to move this fund from the banks. I will want to present you as the rightfully owner of the fund and as unpaid contractor, all legal documents will be on your name. Presently, the new Government in Nigeria has seized most of my property and freezes all my accounts in the country, but nobody is aware of this fund except my wife.

The most important thing is that can we trust you? Once the funds get to your custody, you take 45% and keep 55% for me and my family until we arrive in your country, provided that you will work according to my instruction. Your own part of this deal is to find a safe place where this fund can be sent.

If you are interested I will furnish you with more details. But the whole process is simple and we must keep a low profile at all times.

Your urgent response is needed.

Thanks and be blessed.

Dr. Gaius Obaseki.

Former Group Managing Director (NNPC).

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam