419 scam: "Mr. Anthony Chi" <officfile2350@yahoo.pt> From The Desk Of The Director

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "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.
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.
- +2347085814299 (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.
- western.office@pisem.net (Pisem; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Anthony Chi" <officfile2350@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: "Mr. Anthony Chi" <western.office@pisem.net>
Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 10:19:26 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: From The Desk Of The Director

Â From The Desk Of The DirectorÂ Â Â Â
Of The Transfer Unit Department Â
Western Union Branch HeadÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Contact Number: +234-7085814299
Â
Attention Dear Beneficially
Â
I have sent you several notices concerning the claim of your benefit that was paid to you as compensation from Benin Republic following my petition against the Government as a human right activist to compensate you with the sum of $4.500,000.00USD But I have not heard from you ever since and I hope you will reply this last notice. You were meant to be receiving $10,000.00usd daily until it completes the correct amount of $4.500,000.00USD you are to receive, here is your todayâ€™s daily payments also to let you know that the payment should be in 2 transaction with the maximum of $5,000 each that is according the law of money gramâ€™here in Benin which meant you can not receive the $10,000 in one transaction for your own notice. Here is the information to pick up your todayâ€™s transaction.
Â
Sender first Name: Orji
Sender Last Name: Ive
Text question: God
Text Answer:Â Saves
(Reference) #4619201434
Amount: $5,000
Â
Sender first Name: Orji
Sender Last Name: Ive
Text question: A
Text Answer:Â B
(Reference) #6741174923
Amount: $5,000

The status now shows Available for pick up by receiver because this amount has been on the system for security reasons, since I did not get any reply message from you after sending you several notices with the transaction details to enable you pick up your Reference number Now, you are strongly advised for the last time to go on to make the payment of $77usd for the activation charges via Western Union money transfer immediately with the details of the Western Union agent in Nigeria Republic with his ReceiverÂ NAMES:Â Emeka Joseph.. COUNTRY:NIGERIA ////LAGOS REPUBLIC.
Â
Name:Â Emeka Joseph
Country: Nigeria Lagos
Amount To Send: $77 Usd Only
Text Question: God
Text Answer: Saves
Â
And send the payment details via email as it clearly appear on the Western Union slip because it is impossible and illegal to em-bed the activation charges from the total funds transferred because of the lawful restriction that has been placed on your funds that restricts anyone from tempering with your funds.
Â
This amount will be made available again within 20 minutes at your resident local Western Union office after
Â you have settled the activation fee and I will avail you with the full details of the first 2 REFERENCE CONTROL NUMBERS of $10,000,00usd.
Â
IMPORTANT NOTICE: If your payment for the activation fee is not received after Four(4) days this time around, you risk forfeiting your benefit permanently.
Â
Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Anthony Chi
(western.office@pisem.net)
Western Union Transfer Unit Director/Human Right Activist

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam