419 scam: "Dr. Usman Bello"<fund@finance.org> ARE YOU THERE?

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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:
- "million us 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)
- "nuhu ribadu" (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. )
- "charles soludo" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "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.
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.
- +2348051006901 (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.
- fund.releasedept@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Usman Bello" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <usmanb1950@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2011 05:33:37 -0500
Subject: ARE YOU THERE?

FROM REV JAMES JERRY
ECO FINANCIAL HOUSE/UNITED NATIONS 2011
TEL +234 8051006901
Email:fund.releasedept@sify.com
Attn: Beneficiary,

This is to bring to your notice that the president of Nigeria Dr Good luck Jonathan and Central Of Nigeria Governor Dr Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has delegated Union Bank Plc in conjunction with the United Nations to pay 100 Nigerian 419 scam victims $5.5Millioneach, You are listed and approved for this payment as one of the scammed victims, get back to me as soon as possible for the immediate payments of your five Million us dollars compensations funds.

On this faithful recommendations want you to know that during the last UN meetings held at Abuja , Nigeria . It was alarmed so much by the rest of the world in the meeting regarding the lose of funds by various foreigners to the scams artists operating in syndicates all over the world today, in other to retain the good image of the country,

The Federal Government is now paying 100 victims of this operators$ 5.5MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND USD each through the mentioned bank Union Bank Plc The payments are to be paid by Federal Reserve Account Unit, corresponding paying bank under funding assistance by the Union Bank Plc

According to the number of applicants at hand,84 beneficiaries has been paid,half of the victims are from the United States, we still have more 16 left to be paid the compensations of$5.5Million Each. Your particulars was mentioned by some of the syndicates who were arrested in Lagos Nigeria as one of their partner, you are hereby warned not to communicate or duplicate this message to any body for any reason what soever, the US secret service is already on trace of the criminals.

The names of the Top Boss and his colleagues who specially involve in this scheme of evil.
1. Prof Charles Soludo
2. Malam Nuhu Ribadu
3. Hon Ngozi Okonji Iwuala
4. Shamsuddeen Usman
5. Ahmed Usman
6. Dr Tunde Lemo
7. Dr Lamido Sanusi
8. Sen David Mark
9. Dr Olushegun Aganga
10. Mrs Mabel williams
11.Mrs Stella Williams
12.Mr peterson adam
13.rev jose carlos
14.Dr KENNETH BROWN

You are to receive your compensations payment via any of the below listed options:
(1) THROUGH DIPLOMATIC HOME CASH DELIVERY.
(2) THROUGH ATM SWIFT MASTER PAYMENT.

Let us know the choice options mentioned above you require to be paid, we shall feed you with further modalities as soon as we hear from you.
All further correspondence should be forwarded to this office such as your full name, contact address and direct telephone number for easy communication between us.

We use this medium on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to apologize for the inconveniences this might have caused you in the past.
I shall feed you with further modalities as soon as I hear from you. All further correspondence should be forwarded to the contact person Mr. Usman B. Thomas on the above email address.
Yours faithfully,
REV JAMES JERRY

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam