419 scam: "Mr. Olufemi Adebola" <info@esme.com.tr> Did You Authorize Anyone To Claim Your Money?

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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:
- "a security company " (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. )
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "desk.information@yandex.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Olufemi Adebola" <info@esme.com.tr>
Reply-To: <oluadebola3@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2017 00:26:18 -0700
Subject: Did You Authorize Anyone To Claim Your Money?

The Nigeria Police Force
Force Head Quarters
Louise Edet House
Shehu Shagari Way, Central,
Abuja - Nigeria

Attn : Beneficiary,

RECOVERY OF YOUR DIVERTED FUNDS

I am contacting you personally to notify you of our discovery as well as get some fact from you.

In accordance to my religious persuasion, I felt expedient to write and inform you on the wicked conspiracy hatched by the duo of Mr. George Williams and some powerful individuals from the Finance Ministry to divert your money ( US$45M ) to their designated account in Cayman Island.

>From my position in this office, I discovered that they moved the fund from United Kingdom to United States, and then moved it last week to Finance House. Today I found out through the Central computer database that they are about to re-route your fund to a security company in United Arab Emirates where they will be able to maneuver the strict IMF Money-Laundering Regulatory Orders. With this, I felt that it is important for me to alert you on this development.

Knowing fully well that it is completely illegal to transfer the ownership of your fund to Mr. George Williams, change your address under 24hrs without legal procedure. That you don't have the fee is not a guarantee for you to instruct transfer of the fund to Mr. George Williams. We have no problem and will release the money to him but we need your letter of agreement made with him or power of attorney by which you authorized him as your next of kin to change your name,pay the fee and receive your funds for you in his own name.

They are still using your name and contract/inheritance identification number as the beneficiary but they have changed the account co-ordinate and this is the reason they are frustrating you by asking for endless fees in order to buy time pending on when they will transfer your funds to their designated account in cayman islands.

I have the reference number of the transaction and also I have the number of the official who is directly in charge at the Financial House. All the data/information about your funds file are within my reach. I do not need gratification from you either in cash or kind. I can never be a part of evil because the bible said YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE.

To further conclude this project, I will like to hear from you immediately to enable us carry out proper action. Waiting your immediate response re-confirming your full contact details for verification as follows:

1. Your full name
2. Your contact address.
3. Your Direct Phone Number and a copy of your identification so we can ascertain dealing with the true beneficiary.

Please respect my discretion on this matter. I repeat, please do not expose my person, it is not easy to get employment around here and I cannot contend with these powerful individuals because they can eliminate me.

Kindly reply through my email id : desk.information@yandex.com for further clarification.

Thanks and be blessed.

Mr. Olufemi Adebola (A.S.P)
Police Public Relation Officer

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam