419 scam: "Mail"<kwiggs@sbcglobal.net> PLEASE,DO RECONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE ,AS A MATTER OF URGENCY..

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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (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.
- +2348085566567 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mail" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <officialmail37@rocketmail.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:52:45 -0800
Subject: PLEASE,DO RECONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE ,AS A MATTER OF URGENCY..

DIRECTOR

INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE
FOREIGN OPERATIONS DEPT
UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC
LAGOS-NIGERIA

ATTENTION:
YOUR INHERITANCE FUNDS OF $12.5M
.................................................................
THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR OVER DUE INHERITANCE FUNDS HAS BEEN
GAZZETED TO BE RELEASED, VIA KEY TELEX TRANSFER (KTT ) -DIRECT WIRE
TRANSFER, ATM CARD TO YOU BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN OVER DUE FUND TRANSFER.

MEANWHILE,A WOMAN CAME TO MY OFFICE FEW DAYS AGO WITH A
LETTER,CLAIMING TO BE YOUR TRUE REPRESENTATIVE.HERE ARE HER

INFORMATIONS
NAME JANET WHITE
BANK NAME: CITI BANK,YORK
BANK ADDRESS:NEW YORK, USA
ACCOUNT Number:

PLEASE,DO RECONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE ,AS A MATTER OF URGENCY IF THIS
WOMAN IS FROM YOU SO THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE HELD
RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING INTO THE WRONG ACCOUNT NAME OR ATM CARD.
THE RESERVE BANK GOVERNOR,EXECUTIVE, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE SENATE
COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN OVER DUE INHERITANCE FUND HAVE APPROVED AND
ACCREDITED THIS REPUTABLE BANK WITH THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR,
INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE / FOREIGN OPERATIONS,TO HANDLE AND TRANSFER ALL FOREIGN
INHERITANCE FUNDS THIS LAST QUARTER PAYMENT OF THE YEAR.HOWEVER,WE
SHALL PROCEED TO ISSUE ALL PAYMENTS DETAILS TO THE SAID MRS.WHITE,IF WE
DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU
WITHIN THE NEXT SEVEN WORKING DAYS FROM TODAY.SEND A COPY OF YOUR RESPOND TO THE FOLLOWING E-MAIL ADDRESS OR CALL JOHNSON FRANK AT UNION BANK OF NIGERIA IMMEDIATELY FOR PROPER GUIDELINES.

CONGRATULATIONS IN ADVANCE.
BEST REGARDS
DIRECTOR

INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE
FOREIGN OPERATIONS DEPT
UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC
LAGOS-NIGERIA.
TELE.+234 8085566567

CC: ALL FOREIGN INHERITANCE FUNDS
CC: CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR
CC: BOARD OF DIRECTORS [FPD]
CC: ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OF NIGERIA

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam