419 scam: "MR. KEHINDE LAWANSON"<firstbankingplc@rediffmail.com> Attention: Beneficiary,

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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:
- "cost of transfer" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. KEHINDE LAWANSON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <firstbank0@rediffmail.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Jul 2010 11:20:55 +0200
Subject: Attention: Beneficiary,

Attention:

This letter is written to you in order to change your life from today. I am Mr. Kehinde Lawanson the Director, International Remittance Department of this Bank, my Boss, Mr.Stephen Olabisi Onasanya, the Managing Director/CEO of this bank is now on compulsory leave and all power have been vested on me to make all international payments.

Also, due to reported cases of corrupt practices in other Nigeria Banks, the Federal Government and the PAY MASTER GENERAL OF NIGERIA has revoked/canceled all power vested on those banks and has appointed our bank (First Bank of Nigeria) to make all foreign payments.

Be informed that the Federal Government have approved the release of your payment of US$16m, I want to help you pull out this fund to your bank account using the easiest and the quickest method, which have not been made known to you before. By this method, you will open a domiciliary/online account with this bank ( First Bank of Nigeria), your fund would be lodged into this domiciliary account and your fund will be paid in directly to any bank of your choice in your country. After the transfer, you will confirm the fund in your bank account within 2hours the same day. No Cost of Transfer (COT) and no stoppage from any Government departments as the transfer will be done within the bank alone and it is very safe.

The method which was introduced to you before is the Telegraphic Transfer (TT) for which confirmation was 48hrs, because of the time factor, petitions could come from various organizations stopping your payment and asking you to pay huge fee which would be difficult for you to pay so that they can benefit from the huge interest your fund generates while still in the Bank. This method is not safe for you because it is not done within the bank alone as information of the payment would be sent to the Central Control Unit (CCU) of the Federal Ministry of Finance and office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

As a good Christian, I have nothing to gain by keeping your fund, I want to assist you receive your fund before my boss resumes office. You have to follow up and work with me now, so keep this very confidential because of fraudsters and impostors who go about presenting various bank accounts in order to divert another beneficiary's fund. Confirm to me through this e-mail address, your present/valid account co-ordinates and amount to be claimed so that I do not transfer your fund to the wrong Bank Account.

Awaiting your quick response.

Yours truly,

MR. KEHINDE LAWANSON

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam