419 scam: Felix Ogbuma <felix.ogbuma@yahoo.com.ph> (no subject)

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +22997507080 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- felixogbuma@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Felix Ogbuma <felix.ogbuma@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: felixogbuma@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2011 20:43:05 +0800 (SGT)
Subject:

Good Day My Dear,

Do accept my
sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your expectation. I am the Director
Foreign Operations, Payment/Remittance Department of a well known bank here in
the Cotonou
Benin Rep. In one of our periodic auditing I discovered a dormant account
having a balance of (US$ 10.5 million dollars) which has not been operated for
the past three years. From my investigations and confirmations, the owner of
this account, a foreigner by name late Mr. Mark, died in a car accident Along
Gbossime express-road with His wife and their three Children since then nobody
has done anything as regards to the claiming of this money because none of his
family members are aware of the existence of the funds.

I have secretly
discussed this matter with a Top senior minister official of the Federal
ministry of finance here and we have agreed to find a reliable foreign partner
to transfer the fund into his account which he will provide since the decessed
is a foriegner and A Beniniose can not stand as the next of Kin to claim the
said fund.

Although due to his position(Top senior minister)he did not
want to take active part but as soon as you follow the instructions I will be
getting from him, everything will be successful because we will be working hand
in hand with him. We thus propose to do business with you, standing in as the
next of kin to the deceased and after due legal processes have been followed,the
fund will be released to your account without delay and we will use it for
investment and to assist the less privileged in the society because if we leave
the fund with the government it will be forfeited for nothing and will be used
to suppress the poor masses in the society.

This transaction is
legitimate and does not originate from drug, money laundry, terrorism or any
other illegal act. Finally, I will give you 30% for your co-operation, 10% will
be for expenses both parties might have incurred during this process. You should
send me any of your valid international passports. On receipt of your response
I will furnish you with detailed clarification as it relates to this mutual
benefit. Do you have any investment idea?

You should send me your
information as states below.

1) YOUR FULL NAME:
2)
ADDRESS,CITY,STATE AND COUNTRY.
3) PHONE,FAX AND MOBILE
4) COMPANY
NAME(IF ANY) POSITION AND ADDRESS
5) PROFESSION,AGE AND MARITAL STATUS

6) COPY OF YOUR INT'L PASSPORT/DRIVERS LICENSE

I look forward to
hearing from you If you are interested to know much about this.

Mr.Felix
Ogbuma,
Director Foreign Operations
Payment/Remittance
Department
Direct Telephone +229 97 50 70 80
Private
Email: felixogbuma@hotmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam