419 scam: "BARR TONY OBI"<barrtonyobi03@yahoo.com.br> FROM THE DESK OF BARR TONY OBI

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "consignment " (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: "BARR TONY OBI" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barrtony_obi_1@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2001 00:24:31 -0700
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF BARR TONY OBI

FROM THE DESK OF BARR TONY OBI

PAY MASTER GENERAL OF NIGERIA FOREIGN AFFAIRS UNIT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SPECIAL DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATION AND DEBT SETTLEMENT COMMITTEE ZONE 11 FEDERAL SECRETARIAT COMPLEX. LAGOS

Attn: Beneficiary,

RE: PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVES ON YOUR AWAITING FUND.

I am Barr Tony Obi, Pay Master General of the Federation,I Wish to inform you that we have received authentic approval and instruction directly from the Presidency, Federal Republic of Nigeria to pay you,your outstanding sum.

It has become considerably emergent that we have been directed to take this measure due to the much embarrassment being caused to certain foreign beneficiaries and the federal republic of Nigeria due to questionable circumstances with which some greedy officials of the Bank's in Nigeria always request for up front payment from contractors and beneficiries before their payment is released.

All approvals required for this payment has issued in your favour including the original document and payment instructions already forwarded to my office on Tuesday being 12nd of jan, 2008. to enable you receive your payment within 72hrs that you reconfirm the required details.

However, I will ensure that you own payment is smooth, fast and successful.Therefore, I want you to personally identify your prefered method of payment from the list of three methods that we execute in this Office which are mentioned below:

1. Telegraphic Transfer (TT) which wires Funds directly to your own bank account.

2. Electronic Payment via ATM Valu Scratch card which allows you to credit the
Funds into your account by connecting the P.I.N. Electronic Pay Voucher via your
Digital telephone.

3. Delivery of Funds in CASH as Diplomatic Consignment to your address in your
country.

Yours sincerely,

Barr Tony Obi

Chiarman, Investigation and Debt Settlement Committee
GET BACK TO ME.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam