419 scam: "OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION" <roywilliams_90@hotmail.com> PAYMENT OF YOUR CONTRACT FUND

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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)
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "certified bank draft" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- mohammedsani011@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION" <roywilliams_90@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: Mohammedsani011@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2012 21:25:02 -0000
Subject: PAYMENT OF YOUR CONTRACT FUND

OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA.
INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE OFFICE
TELEX AND CREDIT UNIT

PAYMENT OF YOUR CONTRACT FUND
CONTRACT #: MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009,
Swift Code: BPH KPL PK,
A/C#: 329606=101244=169=678
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT
CENTRAL BANK NIGERIA
Our Ref: CBN/IRD/CBX/021/04
Date:29- 07- 2012

ATTN:

The Senate committee on foreign payment in its last meeting with the
Governor, Deputy Governor Central Bank of Nigeria gave a final approval
for the immediate payment of all the foreign contractors who for long
executed their contract in Nigeria without receiving their contract
payment.

In view of this present development, we wish to inform you that your
USD$15 Million contract fund has been stated for immediate remittances but
action is on your contract payment following a change of account
application filled in by one Mr. George Adams with the new account details
as follows:

Hong-kong-shan ghai bank corps Grand-London England: Beneficiary: George
Adams: Account NO: 001-229-221:This account information which was
submitted by George Adams did not come with VALID POWER OF ATTORNEY, it
is this issue that compelled me to contact you so as to receive
confirmation from you on the change of account. If this change of account
was authorized by you, it has to be written in company letter headed paper
stamped and signed by you; Reconfirming to me the following..

1. That the application for the change of beneficiary was done with your
consent.

2. That the said fund should be transferred into the above account.

This have to be done immediately because we will not entertain any esquire
from your so called agent who came to this office demanding your contract
payment by cashier cherub, telegraphic transfer or certified bank draft:
If in the alternative you did not permit any
body to effect such a change of account, authenticate your disapproval to
this office in your letter headed paper with all the contract and account
details clearly stated. This is to enable us avoid errors in the
transferring of this fund.

Central bank of Nigeria will not be held responsible for any wrong
information given to us.

Send your Response to this email address: Mohammedsani011@hotmail.com

Yours faithfully,
MOHAMMED SANI

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam