419 scam: "Robert Ojo"<robeojo@aol.com> Dear Friend (15/03/2011)

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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: "Robert Ojo" (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:07:35 +0100
Subject: Dear Friend (15/03/2011)

Dear Friend,

You may be surprised to receive this offer since we have no previous communications. I write to solicit your assistance in a funds transfer deal involving US$10.5M.

This fund accrued as undeclared profit made last year by this branch of the Fidelity Bank Plc which I head.

My head office here in 21 Oba Akran Avenue Ikeja, Lagos- Nigeria has already approved my Management Profitability Report for the year 2009/10 which further secures this fund.

This amount of US$ 10,500,000.00 currently floats on a Non-Investment Account without a beneficiary.

Upon your response, I will configure your name on the database of the entire Fidelity Bank Plc as holder of the Non-Investment Account housing the funds. I will then guide you on how to apply to my head office for the Account Closure/ bank-to-bank remittance of the funds to your designated bank account.

If you concur with this proposal, I intend for you to retain 40% of the funds while 60% shall be for me.

Sincerely,

Robert Ojo

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam