419 scam: "Collins Ali"<barristerfrankobiobi@yahoo.com> Read carefully and respond to me

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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)
- "with your full names" (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)
- "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.
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.
- michelaokeke@mail.md (Mail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Collins Ali" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <colali90@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 2009 02:27:54 -0700
Subject: Read carefully and respond to me

>From Mr. Collins Ali
Federal Ministry of Finance
5th Floor, Annex 3, New Federal Secretariat Complex,
Shehu Shagari Way , Central Area
Lagos Nigeria .
Dear Friend,
My name is Mr Collins Ali.I'm the personal secretary to the new Minister of Finance, I'm directed to contact you by the Minister to urgently confirm from you if actually you know one Peter Woo who claims to be your business associate/ partner in Nigeria .
The said Mr. Peter is claiming to us that you are dead and he will like to change all the Information's that you gave to us as our bonafide beneficiary. This development is coming now that the Ministry wants to offset all outstanding payments to all our legal foreign
beneficiaries around the world and your payment file was affected. As you may know, the total amount in your favor is a total sum of $75 Million Dollars.

We need to confirm from you if it's really true that you are dead and If we did not hear from you it automatically means that you are actually dead and the information passed to us by Mr. Peter is
correct.
For immediate transfer of your fund,and to authenticate that such application by this man is wrong,you are urgently requested to reply this email today by RE-CONFIRMING THE BELOW INFORMATIONS TO THIS OFFICE:
1) YOUR FULL NAME
2) YOUR ADDRESS
3) TELEPHONE NO.
4) DATE OF BIRTH AND OCCUPATION
5) ID CARD NO
You are to contact me through my email address as soon as you receive this message so as to know the true position of things with you so that we won't make any mistake in remitting your out-standing payment to a wrong person/account. Your quick response will help this ministry
allotted email me with your full names and direct phone number for an easy communication, your age and occupation to this effect. Finally send you
urgent response only to this email address: michelaokeke@mail.md
Awaits your quick response.
Thanks.
Frnk Obi
Secretary for: Federal Minister Finance (FMF).
Mr. Collins Ali
Assist: Secretary for: Federal Minister Finance (FMF

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam