419 scam: "From Femi Ajayi"<ffajayi@katamail.com> TODAY'S MUTUAL BENEFIT 16/04/2012

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "From Femi Ajayi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <f.ajayi@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2012 19:48:19 +0100
Subject: TODAY'S MUTUAL BENEFIT 16/04/2012

Dear Friend,

I am Mr.Femi Ajayi,If you can work with me, we will achieve our goal because as Head of Delegation to the World Bank in West Africa. I am the linkman between the Organization For Petroleum Exporting Countries - OPEC and the petroleum sector in a West African country. I also attend OPEC meetings constantly in Geneva.

Through the sale of our allocated oil quota in OPEC, I was able to make ($25M) TWENTY FIVE Million UNITED STATE DOLLARS, which is currently deposited in an European Finance company.And I will want you to co-operate with me as partner to claim this money as I cannot claim it directly because I am still a civil servant, and the code of conduct bureau forbids me to acquire such amount of money. It is on this basis that you will act as my partner to make the claim of the fund. If you will be interested in this transaction, I will ensure that all claim documents will be processed and sent to you.

The deposit documents will be changed to reflect you as the new beneficiary so that you will be legally eligible to collect the fund as my partner as will share thereafter on the ratio of 60% for me 30% for and 10% will be used to cover expenses incurred.

Do get back to me if you agree to partner with to secure the fund with your telephone number so that we can discuss further.

Expecting your response.

Best regards,

Femi Ajayi

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam