419 scam: HAFIZ RINGIM <officeweb-----in17@att.net> INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE NIGERIA POLICE

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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:
- "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.
- +234126649177 (Nigeria, landline)

Fraud email example:

From: HAFIZ RINGIM <officeweb-----in17@att.net>
Reply-To: investigation.deptnigeriapolice@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2011 06:24:33 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE NIGERIA POLICE

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE NIGERIA POLICE

HEAD HQ ABUJA,NIGERIA

COMMISSIONERS OFFICE,IKOYI,LAGOS

234-1-26649177

ATTN: GOOD DAY MY HONORABLE CONTRACTOR,

I WISH TO BRING TO YOU THIS VERY GOOD NEWS BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT MIGHT INTEREST YOU. THIS IS TO OFFICIALLY INFORM YOU THAT, ABOUT THREE FRAUDSTERS HAVE BEEN NABBED BY MY MEN OF THE POLICE ON DUTY YESTERDAY WHO CLAIMED ABOUT THAT US$430,000 HAVE BEEN FALSELY DUPED FROM YOU BY THESE MEN. AS YOU ARE READING THIS MESSAGE, THEY ARE COOLING IN THE PRISON YARD AWAITING THEIR TRAILS.

YOU ARE TO FORWARD THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS AN EVIDENCE THAT WILL PROVE TO MY OFFICE THAT YOU ARE REALLY THE OWNER OF THE DUPED FUNDS:

(1) YOUR FULL NAMES

(2) YOUR COUNTRY NAME/PHONE NUMBER

(3) YOUR OFFICE/HOME CONTACT ADDRESS

(4) A COPY OF YOUR INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT

(5) YOUR CONTRACTORS/INHERITANCE ID CARD NUMBER.

(6) YOUR RECEIVING BANK ACCOUNT WHERE THIS MONEY COLLECTED FROM YOU US$430,000 WILL BE WIRED.

As soon as the full detailed data`s are received and we are through with your claim, i will use my power as the INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE to make sure you are compensated very well. on behalf of Nigeria's as a whole and my humble self, i said sorry and promise it will not happen again having discussed with the president of Nigeria this morning.

I await the information.

Regards,

HAFIZ RINGIM

INSPECTOR GENERAL OF NIGERIA POLICE

This communication is intended only for use by the addressee. It may contain confidential or privileged information. If you are not the addressee of this e-mail or fax you may not copy, forward, disclose or otherwise use it or any part of it in any form whatsoever. If you have received this e-mail or fax in error please inform us as soon as possible.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam