419 scam: "Mrs, Vivian Obasi" <roy.vivian@btinternet.com> YOUR URGENT RESPONSE IS NEEDED..

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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "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. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs, Vivian Obasi" <roy.vivian@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: dueprocessu@maktoob.com
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:27:18 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: YOUR URGENT RESPONSE IS NEEDED..

Dear Sir/Madam

Instruction has been given by the Office of the Presidency and United Nations (UN) and

International Monetary Fund (IMF) to transferYour funds through International ATM Debit

Card valued at Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars ($7,500, 000.00) being compensation funds from the World Bank as detected on our data base which you can use

it in near cash point,shopping mall orbanking hall.

You can withdraw money from yourInternational ATM Debit Card from any ATM MACHINE location or center of your choice nearest to you, in any part of the world. You are advise to reconfirm your address with your mobile line included, where Diplomatic Courier service will dispatch your ATM Card to you within 48hrs.

Yours faithfully,

Mrs, Vivian Obasi

Foreign Payment Due Process Unit

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam