419 scam: "Dr.James Lawrence"< jlawrence016@att.net> Urgent Notice

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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:
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "abuja" (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.
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.
- +2348167480367
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.
- jameslawrence001@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr.James Lawrence" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnlawrencewes@pisem.net>
Date: Thu, 9 Aug 2012 18:19:55 +0100
Subject: Urgent Notice

Ambassador John Lawrence
Foreign Affairs Ministry.
(CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA)CBN
Maputo Street, off
Street,Wuse Zone 3, P.M.B. 130,
Garik, Abuja Nigeria.
Email; jameslawrence001@hotmail.com

FOR THE URGENT ATTENTION OF OUR UNPAID

BENEFICIARIES CONFIRMATION

I am Ambassador John Lawrence, Minister Foreign Affairs Ministry; my office monitors and controls the affairs of all Financial Institutions in line with the

objective of projecting a better image for Nigeria and also oversea the final payment for foreign contract execution(NEW)and outstanding(OLD) payments.I am the final signatory to any transfer or remittance of huge funds moving within banks locally and at international levels in line with our foreign contracts settlement decree(chap3,section 2B), other sited as Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRM) I have before me, list of funds which couldn't be transferred to some nominated accounts as these accounts have been identified either as ghost accounts,unclaimed deposits and

over-invoiced sum etc.

Your name was among the people expecting the funds to be transferred into their account, on this note;I wish to have a deal with you as regards your unpaid funds. I have your file before me and hope your data\'s are correct and Un-tampered unless your reconfirm it.As it is my duty to recommend the transfer of these surplus funds to the Federal Government Treasury and Reserve Accounts as unclaimed deposits,I have the opportunity to write you based on the instructions I received 2 days ago from

the Senate Committee on Contract Payments /Foreign Debts to the List of payment reports / expenditures and audited reports of revenues.Among several others, I have decided to remit your contract sum following my idea that we have a deal/agreement and I am going to do this

legally.

MY CONDITIONS

1. 50% of the sum only will be paid into an account i will provide you, after you have confirmed the transfer ofyour sum into your account by

telegraphic Transfer (T/T),conformable in 3 working days.

2. This deal must be kept very confidential and all correspondence will be strictly by email / telephone,for security purposes.

3. There should be no third parties as most problem associated with your fund release are caused by your agents or representative.

If you agree with my conditions, l advise you on what to do immediately and the transfer will commence without delay as I will proceed to fix your name on the Payment schedule instantly to meet the three days mandate.I hope you don\'t reject this offer and have your funds transferred.Waiting for your reply soon.

AMBASSADOR JOHN LAWRENCE
FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER.
EMAIL:jameslawrence001@hotmail.com
TEL: +2348167480367

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam