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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "nigeria national petroleum corporation" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "contract award committee" (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.
  
• 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.
  • contactinfo@indiatimes.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Bond Obengo" <contactinfo@webbsinc.org>
Reply-To: contactinfo@indiatimes.com
Date: Thu, 01 May 2008 13:16:27 +0000
Subject: YOUR FAVORABLE RESPONSE WILL BE APPRECIATED




NIGERIA NATIONAL
PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC)
IKOYI FALOMO - LAGOS
DEAR SIR/MADAM

I am BOND OBENGO chairman contract award committee for the petroleum
special trust fund.

I know that these letters will come to you as a surprise since we have
not met in person.please bear with me.

we are in search for a reliable and honest partner abroad that we can
entrust with the sum of us$15 million.( FIFTEEN MILLION UNITED STATES
DOLLARS ONLY)

These fund originated from contract we awarded for the petroleum trust
fund (PTF) Purpose for the supply and installations of oil-pipeline to
Port-Harcourt and Warri Refineries.

This contract has been executed and full payments have been made to
the contractors who executed these contract leaving behind us$15million
as an over-invoice amount for we the committee members.
In view of this, my colleagues have mandated me to look for a foreign
partner abroad who will receive these fund on our behalf.
I will be visiting your country upon your confirmation in receipt of
fund to know you better and discuss investment or importation of goods
back to our country.

Any delay in your reply will give room in sourcing for another person
/organization for this same purpose.

You will have 20% out of the total amount for all your time to carry
out this dream and to cover whatever expenditures to claim this money.
Until I hear from you today unfailingly, my dream will rest squarely on your shoulders.

WE ASSURE YOU THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% RISK FREE AND VERY
LEGITIMATE AS ALL MODALITIES HAVE BEEN PERFECTED BY US WITH OUR CONNECTION IN GOVERNMENT What matters most is honesty on your side and for you to keep everything confidential until this fund is duly transfered to you.

If this business interests you, please do not hesitate to email me as a
matter of urgency with your contact phone and fax numbers so that I
can give you more details.
Cheers and God bless you.

You can be rest assured that your security has been considered before
you were contacted.

N:B 1. YOUR FULL NAME 2. PHONE AND FAX NUMBER 3. HOME ADDRESS/COMPANY'S
NAME AND ADDRESS. 5. YOUR AGE AND SEX.

Best Regards
BOND OBENGO
please reply to:
contactinfo@indiatimes.com

let me hear from you urgently

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam