419 scam: "DR. JAMES AKU-NKEM" <debtoffice05@gmail.com> PLEASE HELP ME.

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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:
- "transferred into your bank account" (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)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "DR. JAMES AKU-NKEM" <debtoffice05@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dr.jamesakunkem1@contractor.net
Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2016 22:21:22 +0100
Subject: PLEASE HELP ME.

Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Foreign Debt Reconciliation Panel
Federal Secretariat Complex
Ref: F. Drc//FGN-MWH-16.
Lagos - Nigeria.

Dear Partner,

I know you must be surprised at this development but I choose to tell
you the truth because of my sincere wish to treat every man, as I
would expect to be treated. After thorough investigation on contract
payment file as directed by the presidency, I discovered that it would
take a long process for your money to be released due to some
irregularities detected in your file. During our investigation, we
found out that you have spent so much money in trying to realize your
contract payment, which did not even reflect in your file, but I have
an offer, which will at least help your financial stand until you
receive your contract payment. This offer is an amount from federal
government leftover.

It is a total sum of (Fifteen Million, Two Hundred Thousand United
States Dollars only), which will be shared between ME and YOU in the
ratio of 50%-50%. This amount is not from your contract sum or have
any thing related to your contract sum, rather it is a left over from
the amount used in paying Foreign/Local Contractors and it is directly
under my custody. I am offering you this because I have seen that your
contract fund will not be released on time until all the nomalities
are rectified and also because you are a government contractor. The
only thing needed for this US$15.2M to be transferred into your bank
account within 10 days are as follows;

1) Your Full Name and Contact Address
2) Your Telephone Number
3) Your Detailed Bank Account information and,
4) The sum of US$2,150, that will be needed for normalization of your
banking coordinates in the Federal High Court of Justice. This is the
only money that you have pay to get this business done successfully.
No risk is attached whatsoever my friend.

If you are interested to make this deal with me, you should contact me
immediately for commencement of this transaction with your new account
information.

Thanks for your co-operation!!!

Best regards,
Dr. James Aku - Nkem (Chairman)
Foreign Debt Reconciliation Panel.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam