419 scam: "austineoniwon@rocketmail.com"<austineoniwon@rocketmail.com> From Engr. Austine Oniwon.

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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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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)
- "abuja" (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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2347090879427 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- nnpc.grp.director@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "austineoniwon@rocketmail.com" (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:15:43 -0800
Subject: From Engr. Austine Oniwon.

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
NNPC Towers, Central Business District,
Herbert Macaulay Way,
P.M.B. 190, Garki, Abuja.
Date: 30th Jan. 2012

Attention Honorable Reader,

I am the Group Director to Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and a member of five men committee appointed by the present democratic Government, Federal Republic of Nigeria. We were empowered to verify and investigate contractual payments of the ministry made during the past Military dictatorship in Nigeria.

During the course of this investigation we discovered ($50M) Fifty Million United States Dollars floating in a suspense account of the ministry. Subsequently, our investigation revealed that this amount originated from over inflated contract whose beneficiary has been dully paid for the contract executed in accordance with the terms of the contract agreement. In the full exercise we discovered more other seventy-two similar cases but were recovered to the government confer few months after our investigation.

Consequently to our resolution to transfer this sum ($50M) Fifty Million United States Dollars into a foreign account to enable us invest the money,I therefore seek for a trustworthy individual or company whose bank account will retain this money. We resolved that you should own (30%) which is Fifteen Million United States Dollars for your service and assistance while Five Million United States Dollars shall be used for taxable charges. The remaining amount shall be for our investment in you Country which is going to be under your care. Having accepted our offer you should forward your safe bank account particulars, your private telephone and fax numbers for immediate commencement of this transfer into your account.

Best Regards.

Mr. Augustine O. Oniwon
Group Director
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)
Private E-mail: nnpc.grp.director@gmail.com
Tel: +234-709-087-9427

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam