419 scam: IGP Onovo <igp.onovo@btinternet.com> Your Urgent Attention and Reply 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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "lagos" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: IGP Onovo <igp.onovo@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: inspectorgeneral-onovo@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 17 May 2010 02:35:17 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Your Urgent Attention and Reply Needed

NIGERIA POLICE FORCE
Fraud/Contract Investigation Department
Office of the Inspector General of Police
Police Command Headquarters, Lagos

Attn: Beneficiary,

I am Mr. Onovo O. Ogbonna, Inspector General of Police Federal Republic of Nigeria.

There is presently a counter claims on your compensation funds by one Mr. Gilbert Felix, who is trying to make us believe that you are dead and he even explained that you are into agreement with him to help you in receiving your fund.

So here comes the big question. Did you sign the deal of assignment in favor of Mr. Gilbert Felix thereby making him the current beneficiary of your compensation fund with his following account details below?

Bank Name: Wachovia Bank of USA
Bank Address: 422601 WACH NY 620732 WACH NEW YORK, USA.
Account Number: 90034417734412
Account Name: Mr. Gilbert Felix
Routing Number: 298821
Swift Code: WB02717US10

We shall proceed to issue all payment details to the said Mr. Gilbert Felix, if we do not hear from you within 3 working days from today.

So kindly let us know before we transfer your total fund US$3.7M (Three Million Seven Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) into his bank account listed above.

Best Regards,

Mr. Onovo O. Ogbonna
Inspector General of Police
Federal Republic of Nigeria

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam