419 scam: "FROM: OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR" <peterjhn80@gmail.com> FROM: OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,

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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "affidavit of claim" (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. )
- "stamp duty" (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. )
- "western union" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "into your nominated bank account" (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)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "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.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: "FROM: OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR" <peterjhn80@gmail.com>
Reply-To: officeoftheexectivedirector002@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 6 Oct 2011 04:28:37 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: FROM: OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,

FROM: OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
CLAIMS/VERIFICATION AND INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE .
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA PLC CO-OPERATE HEADQUARTERS,
AREA 3, GARKI, PMB 35, ABUJA FCT- NIGERIA.

ATTENTION :

This is to inform you that the central bank of Nigeria plc has approved your payment of $700,000 and the board of director's in charge of fund release has approved your file this morning and this fund will be transferred by your choice of transfer but we have to get the legal court clearance certificate which will be obtained in your name as required by law.

Consequently, you are required to come physically present to Nigeria and swear the legal court clearance certificate (affidavit of claim) before Nigeria federal high court of justice to empower us by law to transfer your fund to you immediately. This is as the Nigeria law and constitution stipulate before any money will be transferred out-side the country to avoid terrorism funding and other related crimes because Nigeria is a peaceful country.

alternatively, if you cannot be able to come to Nigeria physically present, you are required to send Five hundred and fifty U.S dollars (us$550) to our legal department to enable us get the affidavit in your name before the Nigeria federal high court of justice (Nigeria federal ministry of justice).

We have decided to assign a lawyer on your behalf from our legal department if you cannot be able to come to Nigeria. But it is your personal responsibility to pay the us$550 which covers official cost of the affidavit gazette by the ministry of justice before issuance of the affidavit to non-Nigerian citizen. We shall assign a lawyer on your behalf from our legal department as soon as you send the affidavit fee to enable us swear the affidavit/stamp duty on your
behalf.

Note: we are not going to charge you for the service of our legal attorney or late submit ion of particulars. We are doing this to save you some cost. Our legal service's is free of charge to all our foreign customer's. But it is your sole responsibility to pay the official cost of the affidavit which is only us$550. This money must be send before 48 hours or your fund will be cancel. View attachment your approval from federal ministry of finance you are required to send the affidavit fee via western union money transfer with this information bellow:

we are giving you concession of 3 banking days to provide this fee.

(1) receiver's name:............. james dibor
(2) location/ address:........ Nigeria, no 20 okota road lagos
(3) text question:................ what is our quality?
(4) text answer:.................. global
(5) amount to be paid:........ us$550.00.

note: you are required to send us the attached scanned copy of the payment receipt after making the payment including the control number (mtcn) for proper confirmation and documentation of the payment so that the affidavit will be obtained in your name immediately.

Finally, once affidavit of claim is obtained in your name as necessary
obligation required by law, your transfer will commence within 24
hours into your nominated bank account and we shall send you the
transfer confirmation document's (receipts) so that you will confirm
your transfer in your bank account.

Awaiting your urgent response in compliance to above directives so that
we can transfer your money to you immediately.
Do that payment as soon as you get this mail so that we can process
your document, God bless.

Please we will appreciate it if you send your telephone number to us for easy communication

Regards

Mr Alex

(Fund Transfer Officer CBN)What is our Quality-Global

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam