419 scam: Mr Alex Odu <alex_odu_2005@yahoo.fr> Ref: Attention: Dear Customer.

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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:
- "demurrage " (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. )
- "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)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
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.
- +22998251127 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Mr Alex Odu <alex_odu_2005@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: officefile942@ymail.com
Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2012 08:11:35 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Ref: Attention: Dear Customer.

Ref: Attention: Dear Customer.

How
are you? hope all is well with you and your family.I know that you
might have forgotten about this your outstanding fund due to our mistake
to delay the delivery up till now.I am writing to inform you that your
file was found in our office today and we discovered that your cheque of
$4.5 Million united state dollars have not been sent to you as it was
instructed by our late boss Mrs. Victoria Crawford.

We are very
sorry for the mistake and the delay, please bear with us because the
fault is from our former secretary who did not complete the instruction
giving by our Boss.My dear, Note that your cheque has been convert into
Master ATM Card to free it from Expiring. This is to tell you that the
arrangement to deliver to you the $4.5 Million in ATM CARD is concluded
today.

Now Your ATM CARD is well packaged with every legal
documents to cover it form not having any problem with any Office
Authority or with your
Federal Government and we have deposit your
ATM Card with the conclusion to deliver it to your home as soon as you
contact them with you current information.

1. Your Full name,________________
2. Your home Address,______________
3. Your current telephone number,______
4. A copy of your picture,_____________
5. Your age/sex,____________________
6. Your country,____________________
7. Your occupation,__________________

For
your Information, We have paid for the delivery charges. Therefore you
should please contact them now to avoid additional cost of demurrage,
after 3days, it should be counting on demurrage.Therefore you should
contact them immediately to avoid paying any demurrage or keeping fees
to them ok, I deposited it yesterday. My dear, you should contact the
ATM Center Director on this below
E-mail. (officefile942@ymail.com)

Contact Person; Dr. Lawrence Gerad
Tele
Phone Number; +229 98251127 Please try to call him immediately to know
when Your ATM CARD could be deliver to you.I wait for your update as
soon as you have receive your ATM CARD Package.
Thanks and God Bless You.
Yours sincerely
Mr Alex Odu

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam