419 scam: "KERRY"<admin@vipmahindra.com> FROM OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE

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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:
- "atm card department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "million 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)
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
- +2348089350730 (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.
- patrickaziza42@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "KERRY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.johnkerry.us@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2016 03:40:55 -0700
Subject: FROM OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN PAYMENT

RESOLUTION PANEL ON PAYMENT)

WASHINGTON DC

Attention: Fund Beneficiary

I wish to use this medium as the US secretary of the states, Mr. John Kerry, to inform you that your CONTRACT/INHERITANCE Payment/Lotto winners prize of USD$10.5m (TEN Million Five hundred thousand Dollars) from CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA and there local banks has been RELEASED and APPROVED for onward transfer to you via a ATM CARD which you will use to withdraw all the USD$10.5m in any ATM SERVICE MACHINE in any part of the world, but the maximum you can withdraw in a day is USD$10, 000 Only

The UNITED STATE OF AMERICA government has mandated CITI BANK OF NIGERIA under the supervision CITIBANK OF NEW YORK, to send you the ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER with other relevant documents from our government and British government and the united nation, You are therefore advice to contact director and the Head of ATM CARD Department of CITI BANK OF NIGERIA for further instructions and to release your approved ATM CARD to you.

Contact Person: MR. PATRICK AZIZA

CITI BANK OF NIGERIA

Phone number: +2348089350730

EMAIL: patrickaziza42@gmail.com

Tell MR. PATRICK AZIZA that you received a message from the OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE to send you the ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER AND ALL THE DOCUMENTS which you will use to withdraw your USD$10.5 Million Dollars, also send him your direct phone number and contact address where you want him to send the ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER to you BUT YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LITTLE INSURANCE AND SHIPMENT FEE FOR SAFE DELIVERY.

All the documents regards to the release of the fund have been handed over to MR. PATRICK AZIZA for delivery.

I am very sorry for the delay you have gone through in the past years. Thanks for adhering to this instruction and once again accept my congratulations in advance.

Best Regards.

MR. JOHN KERRY

US SECRETARY OF THE STATES

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam