419 scam: "Michigan Andrew," <nnaikewiki@gmail.com> DEPARTMENT OF INT'L AFFAIRS,

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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
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.
- +22963228132 (Benin, probably a 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.
- fabienpatrick@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Michigan Andrew," <nnaikewiki@gmail.com>
Reply-To: michiganandrew91@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2023 00:15:14 -0700
Subject: DEPARTMENT OF INT'L AFFAIRS,

DEPARTMENT OF INT'L AFFAIRS
(Office of the Under Secretary)
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW,
Washington D.C. 20220.

Urgent Attention,

I am Mrs. Janet Yellen, Under Secretary for International Affairs of
the United States Treasury Department and was sworn in as the 78th
Secretary of the United States Department of the Treasury in a
ceremony attended by Mr. President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and Vice
President Mrs. Kamala Devi Harris, See below: http://www.treas.gov/
organization/bios/ Brainard. shtml

Following series of complains from Citizens of the United States as
well as Citizens of Other Countries In Europe over the Discrepancies
and fraudulent ways in which fund transfers are handled by Africans
which has made it impossible for a lot of People to claim their
Winning or Inheritance funds from most African Countries due to frauds
and illegal activities, A decision was reached recently by the United
States Treasury Department under the authority of the White House to
compel African Financial bodies (Banks) to urgently release all funds
of American and European citizens that are trapped in most Banks and
Courier Companies in Africa. It was discovered that some bureaucratic
bottlenecks were put by these Banks and Couriers service to make it
impossible for beneficiaries to claim their funds so that they will
fraudulently divert those funds to their private accounts.

Consequent upon the aforementioned, I was personally mandated to
handle this matter to ensure that all funds of our Citizens and others
which are fraudulently being trapped in African Banks are urgently
retrieved and paid to the actual Beneficiaries under a legal manner.
Our team of experts was delegated to Benin Republic, Nigeria, Ivory
Coast and Ghana for this task and we discovered your File NO:
BR227/9005666/00 as unclaimed funds. It was discovered that officials
of the Bank have only put up illegal requirements in order to make it
difficult for you to claim your fund.

The United States Department of Treasury has retrieved all Files of
illegal transactions and we will be working under a legitimate
arrangement to ensure that you follow the normal process to receive
your fund. You are requested to Re-confirm the following information
to the 86th World Bank Funds Payment Representative Agent under
United Bank for Africa (UBA) by his e-mail: @ <fabienpatrick@aol.com>

1. SURNAME.............
2. OTHER NAMES...........
3. PHONE NUMBER..........
4. YOUR CITY:............
5. ADDRESS...............
6. COUNTRY...............
6. AGE...................
7. SEX...................
8. OCCUPATION.............
9. AMOUNT TO BE CLAIMED: US$45.5 million dollars

Be informed that the above information will only enable us to make due
confirmation. We shall ensure that normal process is followed to
ensure that your fund gets to you without delay. Contact Mr. Fabian
Patrick on his phone for urgent attention: +229 63228132 or e-Mail
below: (fabienpatrick@aol.com)

Mrs. Janet Yellen,
(Under Secretary).
Chat Conversation End

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam