419 scam: "DR. BERNARD UCHE" <i.dobbs@btopenworld.com> Did you authorize anyone to claim your fund? (respond ASAP)....................

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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:
- "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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist 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. BERNARD UCHE" <i.dobbs@btopenworld.com>
Reply-To: <www.drbernardobi4040@live.com>
Date: Fri, 11 Jun 2010 03:07:02 +0100
Subject: Did you authorize anyone to claim your fund? (respond ASAP)......................

Dear beneficiary,

I am Dr. Bernard Uche. A director with the federal ministry of finance and was
Instructed by the hon. Minister of finance to find out before the end of this
Month, why your contract payment fund valued $10.2million dollars is still unclaimed.

However, their are two gentlemen here who came from your country to claim this
Inheritance fund on your behalf and the reason giving to us is that you are the
One who sent them that you are terminal sick is that true?

In this regard, kindly reconfirm your personal information to us for proper
Identification, and to know if you are the one that sent them for the claim.

Bellow are the information that you are to reconfirm to my office immediately.

1) Your full name.......................
2) Your phone number, cell phone, mobile#.......................
3) Your address..............................
4) Your occupation/position........................

Upon the proper identification, the hon. Minister of finance will immediately
Sign the approval letter and refer you to our diplomatic agent who will be
Delivering to you your total amount of $5.5million dollars by ATM MASTER CARD so
That you can be able to cash it over there, also a pin code will be emailed to
You once you have received the ATM CARD for security reasons, just get back to
Us ASAP to let us know if you sent any one here to claim your ATM CARD or not.

Please make sure that you get back to us with requested details so that we can
Start processing your ATM CARD for immediate delivery to your residential home
Address.

We await your response shortly

Best Regards,
Dr. Bernard Uche
Director; External
Debt Recording & Settlement Dept
Debt Management Office

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam