419 scam: "Blessing Ngozi"<charlspaul@yahoo.com> DID YOU SEND ANYBODY TO PICK YOUR FUND FOR YOU?

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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:
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- blessingngozi2012@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Blessing Ngozi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <blessingngozi2012@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 7 Jul 2012 11:40:18 +0100
Subject: DID YOU SEND ANYBODY TO PICK YOUR FUND FOR YOU?

PAYMENT SCHEDULE/CBN/FEDRESERVE SSCE 0809XX1

FOREIGN PAYMENT APPROVAL.

Email blessingngozi2012@yahoo.com

With reference to the approval of your inheritance issued to us and in pursuant to the foreign payment act,laws/treaties(payment intact to the beneficiary) we have been instructed to release your total sum by a certified Cheque to you.

There is no instruction to change the ownership of the fund to your sister DIANA JOHNSON.

There is no time we were instructed to transfer your money to the account of Mrs Johnson (your sister)who you just authorised to pay your fees and collect your money on your behalf without any formal information to us.

The bank especially this Commercial bank that deals with foreign inheritance fund have rules of payment.We cannot release the money to her. Tell her that I said ,,,,.......

It is completely illegal to transfer the ownership of your fund to your sister Diana Johnson ,change your address under 24hrs without telling us .

That you don't have the fee is not a guarantee for you to instruct transfer of the fund to your sister. We have no problem and will release the money to her but we need your letter of agreement made with her or power of attorney by which you authorised her as your next of kin to change your name,pay the fee and receive your funds for you in her own name.

Please,call me immediately or email - blessingngozi2012@yahoo.com with the accredited above to enable us complete and effect the payment to her designated name/address predominated to us .

Thanks but NO thanks to send your sister(as your Representative) without our information.

We cannot release the money to her unless we hear

from you.

I remain,

Yours faithfully,

Blessing Ngozi

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam