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

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. BENSON UZO" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <benson_uzo@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Sep 2014 05:43:16 -0600
Subject: DEAR FRIEND

NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES (F.M.P.R),
NEW FEDERAL SECRETARIAT, SHEHU SHAGARI WAY, ABUJA.
LAGOS ANNEX OFFICE, LAGOS-NIGERIA.
Tel: +234{809}1781745
Email:benson_uzo@aol.com
 
 
DEAR Sir/Madam
 
                                                 REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE- STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
 
 
I am Mr.Benson Uzo the Deputy General Manager Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (N.N.P.C) and also an Accountant with Federal Ministry of petroleum Resources (FMPR) and a member of a three-man Tender Board in charge of contract review and payment approvals. I came to know of you in my search for a reliable person to handle a very confidential transaction that involves the transfer of a huge sum of money to a foreign account. It may sound strange but exercise patience and read on. There were series of contracts executed by a consortium Multinational in the Oil industry in favor of Ministry of Petroleum Resources among which was:
 
 
1. The extension of pipeline network within Nigeria for crude oil, downstream products distribution and subsequent evacuation- US$ 195 Million.
2. Contract for the Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) of the various refineries in the country~ US$ 152Million.
3. The construction of the Kaduna Refinery, some contractors were paid, while some have not been paid by the Nigerian Government. Few days ago, the president of the federal republic of Nigeria called to the Aso-Rock Villa Abuja, where we held a meeting concerning the contractors that have not been paid their contract payments, after the meeting, the president then Appointed me to be in charge of the person who will be shortlisting the names of the contractors that have not received their contract payments and submit the list to him for necessary approval.
 
Why am writing you this mail, is for us to do a deal, I will be approving the sum of USD$35.5Million in your name, I want you to act as one of the contractors owned by the Nigerian Government, I will include your name in the list of the file to be submit to the presidency for approval and I am prepared to give you 30% of the total sum after this money is been transferred to your bank account.
 
 
Sir/Madam, if you are willing to do this deal with me, kindly contact me via the above telephone numbers Tel: +234{809}1781745 Email-{ benson_uzo@aol.com }  then I will now tell you the next step that we are going to follow and what you be required to send, to enable me start the immediate procurement of all the necessary paperwork/Approvals to back up the claim of the USD$35.5M in your favor. Please don’t fail to include your private contact details, including your Direct Telephone Number(MOBILE). Please destroy this letter, if you are not willing to do this deal with me. I will be investing my own share of the money through your guide lines in your country or if you have a company, I will prefer to go into partnership with you after the successful conclusion of the transaction. So please treat this issue with utmost confidentiality if you are willing to execute this deal with me, after all the documentations, We intend to conclude the transaction within the next 14 banking days. There is no risk invol
 
Have a wonderful Day.
 
Thank you.
 
Yours Faithfully,
 
Dr.Benson Uzo
(FEDERAL MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES, NNPC)
Email-{ benson_uzo@aol.com }

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