419 scam: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL <ugoamuleri@gmail.com> OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

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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:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "western union" (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "economic and financial crimes commission" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "(efcc)" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "lagos" (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.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- ctheexecutivechairmanofefcc@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL <ugoamuleri@gmail.com>
Reply-To: officemail19601960@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2015 13:53:38 -0700
Subject: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
441 4th Street NW,
Suite 1145S,
Washington, DC 20001.

Attention:

We have received instruction from the Police Department ,Home land
Security and the Federal Bereau of Intelligence (FBI) here in the
United States of America to prosecute you over allegations of money
laundering and terrorist related activities with fake/sacked Nigeria
bank officials to which there is over whelming evidence of your
involvement in my office now.

The need for your urgent prosecution arose from your inability to
secure the mandatory Clearance Bill Certificate from the Economic And
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria inspite of several
opportunities given to you by the Police Department,Home land Security
and FBI.

Inview of the indicting report submitted to the Police Department,Home
land Security and FBI by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC), the Police Department ,Home land Security and FBI has
recommended for your immediate prosecution.

To avoid prosecution, You have to obtain the required Certificate from
EFCC - CHAIRMAN NIGERIA, MR. IBRAHIM LAMORDE ON HIS EMAIL ADDRESS :
ctheexecutivechairmanofefcc@yahoo.com and the Cost of the Certificate
is $125 only which she asked you to send via western union or money
gram to the name below;

Receiver name; Shola Amosu
Location; Lagos Nigeria;
Text Question; Color?
Text Answer; Green;
Mtcn..................
Name and address of sender..................

Then forward to her and aslo copy to us the mtcn and name of sender to
enable her confirm the fee and obtain the documents in your name and
forward to my office immediately for your own good.

We are giving you notice of service of writ of summons after seven
days of receiving this letter by mail. If after the seven days and you
are not able to obtain the Certificate to clear yourself before the
Police Department ,Home land Security and FBI, Legal prosecution will
begin immediately.

Note a copy of this email have been forwarded to the
POLICE/AUTHORITIES CONCERN and failure to comply will led to order for
your immediate arrest.

Justice delayed is justice denied.

Your's faithfully,

Attorney General Eric Holder

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam