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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.

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Fraud email example:

From: "Michael Obasi" <michaelobasi1@nnpcplc-ng.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2005 06:52:21 +0000
Subject: IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT

FROM THE DESK OF MR MICHAEL OBASI
SPECIAL ADVISER TO PROF CHALERS SOLUDO
THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
ON PETROLEUM MATTERS.

IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT.
CONTRAC#MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009,

ATTN:BENEFICIARY

FROM THE RECORDS OF OUTSTANDING CONTRACTORS DUE FOR PAYMENT WITH THE NIGERIA
NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION(NNPC) YOUR NAME AND COMPANY WAS DISCOVERED AS
NEXT ON THE LIST OF OUTSTANDING CONTRACTORS WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED THEIR
PAYMENTS.

I WISH TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR PAYMENT HAVE BEING PROCESSED AND WILL BE
RELEASED TO YOU AS SOON AS YOU RESPOND TO THIS LETTER.

ALSO NOTE THAT FROM RECORDS IN MY FILE YOUR OUTSTANDING CONTRACT PAYMENT IS
$15.MILLION DOLLARS{FIFTEEN MILLION UNITED STATES OF AMERICAN DOLLARS}.

PLEASE RE-CONFIRM TO ME IF THIS IS IN LINE WITH WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR RECORD
AND ALSO RE-CONFIRM TO ME THE FOLLOWING DETAILS BELLOW:

{1}YOUR FULL NAMES
{2}YOUR PHONE NUMBERS AND FAX
{3}YOUR COMPANY ADDRESS AND YOUR POSITION
{4}YOUR MARITAL STATUS PROFESSION AND AGE.
(5)YOUR TWO PAGES OF PASSPORT PHOTOGRAPH

AS SOON AS THIS INFORMATION?S ARE RECEIVED ,YOUR PAYMENT WILL BE MADE TO YOU
IN A CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT OR WIRE TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT DIRECTLY FROM THE
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA AND A COPY OF THE PAYMENT SLIP WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU
FOR YOU TO GO TO YOUR BANK AND CONFIRM IT.OR BY CASH PAYMENT.

CALL ME ON MY DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS LETTER FOR
A SERIOUS DISCUSSION WITH ME BEFORE I CAN PASS YOUR FILE TO THE EXECUTIVE
GOVERNOR OF CENTRAL BANK FOR HIS IMMEDIATE ENDORSEMENT OF YOUR PAYMENT FILE.


REGARDS
MR MICHAEL OBASI
SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA ON PETROLEUM MATTERS.


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