419 scam: FRANK OBI <office--17@att.net> This IS FOR YOU

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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 brother " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
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.
- vo5050@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: FRANK OBI <office--17@att.net>
Reply-To: ov5051@yahoo.cn
Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2011 02:32:30 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: This IS FOR YOU

Dear Brother ,

How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family? I hope

this email meets you in a perfect condition. I am using this

opportunity to thank you for your great effort to our unfinished

transfer of fund into your account due to one reason or the other

best known to you. But I want to inform you that I have successfully

transferred the fund out of my bank to someone else account who was

capable of assisting me in this great venture through the help of the

diplomat i told you about.Due to your effort, sincerity,courage and

trustworthiness' you showed at the course of the transaction I want

to compensate you and show my gratitude to you with the sum of

$750,000.

I have authorized my new lawyer who is now also my legal adviser to

make sure an ATM CARD that I have been laoded before my trip to London should be Delivered to you immediately you get in contact with Him.

Because i am currently in London now.I did this but could not collect the ATM Card along with because of the urgent of my moving out of Nigeria which i gave my Lawyer the power to make sure it gets to you.

The Limit of withdrawal per day is $5,000.00 USD.

The name and contact address of my lawyer is as follows.

Barr.VICTOR OGUNTA

E-mail : vo5050@yahoo.com

At the moment, I'm very busy here because of the investment projects

which I and my new partner are having at hand in London. Finally,

remember that I have forwarded instruction to the Lawyer on your

behalf to send the ATM CARD to you as soon as you contact him

without delay.

Please I will like you to accept this token with good faith as this is

from the bottom of my heart. Thanks and God bless you and your family.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Your Friend,

Frank

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam