419 scam: "Mr. Nobert O." <office---56487@att.net> Dear Friend

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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:
- "western union" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "million 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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- +22999951012 (Benin, probably a 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.
- westernunion@net.hr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Nobert O." <office---56487@att.net>
Reply-To: westernunion@net.hr
Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:53:34 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Dear Friend

Attention Beneficiary,

I am writing this letter in confidence believing that this mail findsyou in an excellent condition of health. I am Mr. Ofordike Nobert Iresumed duty recently as policy harmonization chairman on public debt acommittee set up by West African Monitoring Institution (WAMI) underthe able presidency.

My office monitors and controls the affairs of all banks and financialinstitutions here in West African that is to tell you that I amcommitted to upholding and defending the constitution and laws of WestAfrican Monitoring Institution as well as achieving a higher level ofpublic safety and security through the prosecution of criminals in thestate.

The purpose of the committee among other is to investigate, verify andsettle all outstanding total pending payment owned and Records beforeme have revealed that your payment has not been effected as a result ofofficial negligence as your fund has been identified either as ghostfile, unclaimed deposits, and over-invoiced sum etc; this is due tomany abnormalities had happened in the institutions where some topofficial of the apex Banks are interested in your payment and theycollaborate with impostors who are carrying a fake portfolios withlevies misled and misguided about the position of your fund and havingthe opportunity to extort money from you that made it too longer uptill date that explains why you receive different kinds of untrueemails and phone call from different people everyday.

Be inform that we have concluded all the necessary arrangement towardsthe transfer of your payment through an WESTERN UNION, but due to theprevailing situation worldwide on cash movement and transfer of hugesum of money, your payment has since being deposited with our(OFF-SHORE WESTERN UNION PAYMENT CENTRE) AFFILIATED TO WORLDASSOCIATIONS OF DEBT MANAGEMENT OFFICES WAMI .Base on the informationwe received from our paying office today, as the truthfully beneficiaryof this payment.

We have concluded to effect your payment of $2.5 Million dollars (TWOMILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ) through western union, but themaximium amount you will be receiving each day starting from tomorrowis $5,000.00 daily until the funds is completely transfered. KindlyContact Western Union Agent:

DR. Nelson B. Collins
TEL: +229-9995 1012
E-mail: westernunion@net.hr

Though, Nelson Collins sent $5,000.00 in your name today so contactDr.Nelson B.Collins and tell him to give you the Mtcn, sender name andquestion/answer to pick the $5,000.00. Pls let me know as soon as youreceived all your funds $2.5 M dollars Thank you.send to him the belowinformation ASAP.

1.YOUR FULL NAME .........................
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS.......................
3.YOUR CURRENT HOME.......................
4.TELE PHONE NUMBER.......................
5.YOUR IDENTITY CARD......................
6.YOUR COUNTRY............................
7.SEX.....................................

Considering the circumstances at hand, you are advice not to accept anyE-mail telephone calls that does not come from this office in regardsto your payment this is to forestall new efforttowards a diversion ofyour payment.

Yours
Mr. Nobert Ofordike

Anti-fraud resources:

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