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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
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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.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "transfer into your 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)
  • "million 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)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "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: "Richard Duke" <richardduke1@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: rdngrxx@myway.com
Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2006 08:04:02 +0000
Subject: FROM ENGR. MARK JOHNSON

FROM ENGR. MARK JOHNSON
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
13B, Oju Olobun Street,
Off Adeola Cdeku Street,
Victoria Island,
Lagos.


Dear Sir/Madam,

I am ENGR.MARK JOHNSON, Chairman of the Tender Committee of the Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). My Committee is principally concerned
with payment of all contract awarded from 1995 to date, in order of priority
as regard capital projects of the NNPC.The information we gathered from the
Foreign Office of theNigeria Chambers of Commerce and Industries is so
positive as to convince us that you would provide us with solution to a
money transfer deal valued at FIFTEEN Million United States Dollars
andsubsequently a joint business venture.

In the course of our duties as values, and project inspectors for the
on-going liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project, we have over-invoiced the
value of some jobs done by foreign contractors for the NNPC to the tune of
US$18M. As follows: -Computer optimization and Installation $16,000.000.00
Installation of 250,000.00 Monax Turbine$10,000.000.00 Turn Around
Maintenance $5,000,000.00 Our aim of over-invoicing this payment is to
divertthe excess amount to a discrete account abroad. This fund is now
floating in suspense account at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

This is the fund my colleagues and I have decided to transfer into your
account since we, as civil servants are not allowed to operate or own
foreign account.

The money will be shared as follows after transfer:30%for you (AccountOwner)
60% for me and my colleagues 10% to offset both local and international
expenses that Would be incurred in the course of this transaction. To be
able to claim the funds, we will be purporting your company to be the
original contractor / beneficiary of the funds so all procedures for
international transfer shall be strictly followed, as we have worked out all
modalities for a swift and risk free transfer.

If this proposal satisfies you, please send through my email address number
the Telephone and Fax Numbers for easy communication.

This transaction will last for 14 working days from the time we submit the
required information, as all modalities concerning this transaction have
been worked out and it is completely risk free.Please be informed that this
subject is classified sensitive.Therefore treat the transaction with utmost
confidentiality and urgency.

Yours Faithfully,

ENGR. MARK JOHNSON
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam