419 scam: "Dr. Abubakar Talle,"<directorforeignaffairsnigeria@fmf.org> From the federal secretariat complex

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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "williearkman@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Abubakar Talle," (may be fake)
Reply-To: <directorforeignaffairsnigeria@w.cn>
Date: Sun, 27 Jun 2010 07:08:45 -0700
Subject: From the federal secretariat complex

From the federal secretariat complex Ikoyi,
P.M.B. 104,
Ikoyi - Lagos
Nigeria

Dear Beneficiary,
Our files state clearly that you are the beneficiary of the funds with an account amounting to $20,000,000.00. And as such, many acclaimed representatives have approached the offices of the Federal Executive Council's secretary and Chief legal adviser to the President of Nigeria for payment.

Now the federal government has appointed Mrs. Willie Arkman the ECOWAS financial consultant with the mandate to strictly handle the payment of all over lapping funds and at the end of the exercise reconcile accounts with us.

We therefore expect you in this regard to furnish her with your banking coordinates as the true beneficiary since you seem not to be aware of these funds.
It is in your best interest to act upon this instruction as limited time has been mapped out for this noble exercise.

Treat as a matter of urgency and contact Mrs. Willie Arkman via email: williearkman@w.cn

Keep me updated as you contact her.
Yours faithfully,

Dr. Abubakar Talle,

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam