419 scam: "DR. JAMES AKU - NKEM." <debtoffice@gmail.com> THIS TRANSACTION REQUIRE YOUR URGENT ATTENTION PLEASE.

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "transferred into your bank account" (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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "DR. JAMES AKU - NKEM." <debtoffice@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dr.jamesakunkem1@contractor.net
Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2015 22:35:00 -0700
Subject: THIS TRANSACTION REQUIRE YOUR URGENT ATTENTION PLEASE.

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
FOREIGN DEBT MANAGEMENT OFFICE
FEDERAL SECRETARIAT COMPLEX, ABUJA.
REF:FDRC/FGN/NNPC-15.

Dear friend,
RE: TRANSACTION.
I KNOW YOU MUST BE SURPRISED AT THIS DEVELOPMENT BUT I CHOOSE TO TELL
YOU THE TRUTH BECAUSE OF MY SINCERE WISH TO TREAT EVERY MAN AS I WOULD
EXPECT TO BE TREATED AS WELL. AFTER A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION ON
CONTRACT PAYMENT FILE AS DIRECTED BY THE PRESIDENCY, I DISCOVERED THAT
IT WILL TAKE A LONG TIME/PROCESS FOR YOUR MONEY TO BE RELEASED DUE TO
SOME IRREGULARITIES DETECTED IN YOUR PAYMENT FILE. DURING OUR
INVESTIGATION, WE FOUND OUT THAT YOU HAVE SPENT SO MUCH MONEY IN
TRYING TO REALIZE YOUR CONTRACT PAYMENT, WHICH DID NOT EVEN REFLECT IN
YOUR FILE, BUT I HAVE AN OFFER, WHICH WILL AT LEAST HELP YOUR
FINANCIAL STAND AND PAY YOUR DEBTS UNTIL YOU RECEIVE YOUR CONTRACT
PAYMENT, THIS OFFER IS AN AMOUNT FROM FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LEFTOVER
(OVER-INVOICE).

IT IS A TOTAL SUM OF US$5,550,000.00 (FIVE MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED &
FIFTY THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY), WHICH WILL BE SHARED
BETWEEN YOU AND ME AT THE RATIO OF 50%-50%. PLEASE NOTE: THESE AMOUNTS
IS NOT FROM YOUR CONTRACT SUM OR HAVE ANYTHING RELATED TO YOUR
CONTRACT SUM, RATHER IT'S A LEFT OVER FROM THE AMOUNT USED IN PAYING
LOCAL AND FOREIGN CONTRACTORS AND IT IS DIRECTLY UNDER MY CUSTODY AS
THE DIRECTOR OF THIS COMMITTEE. I AM OFFERING YOU THIS OPPORTUNITY
BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN THAT YOUR CONTRACT FUND WILL NOT BE RELEASED ON
TIME UNTIL ALL THE ANOMALIES ARE RECTIFIED AND ALSO BECAUSE YOU ARE A
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTOR. THE ONLY THING NEEDED FOR THIS US$5,550,000.00
TO BE TRANSFERRED INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT WITHIN 7 BANK WORKING DAYS
ARE AS FOLLOWS;

1). YOUR FULL NAMES AND RESIDENT ADDRESS
2). YOUR MOBILE/TELEPHONE NO'S
3). YOUR DETAILED BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION WHERE THE MONEY WILL BE TRANSFER TO
4) THE SUM OF US$1,575 THAT WILL BE NEEDED FOR NORMALIZATION OF YOUR
BANKING COORDINATES IN THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE. THIS IS THE
ONLY MONEY THAT YOU HAVE PAY TO GET THIS BUSINESS DONE SUCCESSFULLY.
NO RISK IS ATTACHED WHATSOEVER MY FRIEND.

THEREFORE, THERE WILL BE NO BUREAUCRACY OR MISFORTUNE ONCE THE ABOVE
MENTION DOCUMENTâ€™S ARE IN PLACE, THE SKY IS OUR STARTING POINT I
PROMISE. PLEASE, IF YOU ARE WILLING READY TO MAKE THIS DEAL WITH ME,
YOU SHOULD CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY FOR COMMENCEMENT OF THIS TRANSACTION
WITH YOUR DETAILED INFORMATION. YOU CAN CALL ME FOR FURTHER
EXPLANATIONS.

THANKS FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION AND UNDERSTANDING IN THE ACTUALIZING OF
THIS TRANSACTION.

YOURS SINCERELY,
DR. JAMES AKU-NKEM (DIRECTOR)
FOREIGN DEBT MANAGEMENT OFFICE.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam