419 scam: "FROM THE DESK OF SENATOR DAVID MARK" <info@senatehouse.org> URGENT ATTENTION 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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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)
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "farida waziri" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "abuja" (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.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2347055448976 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- drbenobi2011@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "FROM THE DESK OF SENATOR DAVID MARK" <info@senatehouse.org>
Reply-To: davidmark.ng2011@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2011 08:30:54 -0500
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION NEEDED

FROM THE DESK OF SENATOR DAVID MARK
THE SENATE PRESIDENT FEDERAL REPUBLIC
OF NIGERIA HEAD OFFICE ABUJA NIGERIA

Attn: My Honourable Contractor,

This is to bring to your notice that the President of Republic of Nigeria,
"Dr.GoodLuck Jonathan (GCFR), Senate President, Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Sen. David Mark (GCFR) and the director with the Federal Ministry of Finance
Dr. Bernard Uche in Conjunction with the EFCC Director, Farida Waziri, held a
meeting last week concerning contract payment both foreign and local
contractors and some inheritance funds. we have constituted a 14 main
investigative Panel and foreign Debts reconciliation committee, which Dr.
Bernard Uche is Chairman of the presidential committee saddled with the
responsibility to investigate all the banks here in Nigeria, who has trapped
and held beneficiaries contract/inheritance Fund claims unpaid.

However, the President has vowed that his government is poised to eradicate
corruption and fraudulent practices here in Nigeria to zero level which
portrays the ugly reputations of this country,s image to the international
community.

On going through contractors file yesterday, we discovered that your file was
dumped untreated, so at this juncture, we apologize for the delay of your
contract payment and please stop communicating with any office now and
attention to the appointed office below for you to receive your payment
accordingly. However, I wish to inform you now that your outstanding contract
payment is ($32,700,000.) thirty two Million, seven hundred thousand United
States dollars).
Now your new Payment Reference No.-35460021, Allocation No: 674632Password No:
339331, Pin Code No: 55674 and your Certificate of Merit Payment No: 103, CBN
Released Code No: 0763; Immediate Telex confirmation No: -1114433; Secret Code
No: XXTN013,Having received these vital payment number, therefore You are
qualified now to received and confirm Your payment with the Federal Government
of Nigeria immediately within the next week.

Now you are hereby directed to contact the Panel and foreign Debts
reconciliation committee, which the Chairman is Dr. Bernard Uche director with
the Federal Ministry of Finance , immediately so that he will tell you what to
do and also pay you and fax you the
payment Copy Slip and also you should reconfirm your Banking Details, Secret
Code No: which is (XXTN013), this is to avoid mistake while transferring your
overdue contract payment to you as planned.

Contact Person:

Name: Dr. Bernard Obi.
(The director with the Federal Ministry of Finance.
Email Address: (drbenobi2011@gmail.com)
Tel: +234-705-544-8976.

Contact him now and inform him that you received a message from the Senate
President Federal Republic Of Nigeria, Instructing you to contact him for
immediate release of your contract payment, please reconfirm your details to
his office to avoid transfer mistake.

1, Full Name......
2, Telephone and Fax Number….
3. Current Contact Address and location.....
4, Your Valid ID
5, Next of Kin if you have any.....
6, Occupation.........

NOTE: We have mounted our security network to monitor every in-coming calls
and emails, if we still find out that you are still dealing with all those
fraudsters/touts that have been frustrating you for years, I shall stop and
cancel your payment immediately.

Best Regards,
Sen. David Mark (Senate President)
Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam