419 scam: "Mr. Asiwaju Stephen"<edge@luck.ocn.ne.jp> Dear Friend,

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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.
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
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.
- +2347027954927 (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.
- nnpcnig@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Asiwaju Stephen" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <stephenm442@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 6 Jan 2019 14:56:34 +0100
Subject: Dear Friend,

From the desk of: Mr. Asiwaju Stephen
Auditor to the Corporation (NNPC)
Tel/fax: +2347027954927
Email: nnpcnig@yahoo.com

Dear Friend,

I am Mr. Asiwaju Stephen, auditor to the Corporation (NNPC), the group managing director, deliberately over-inflated contract payment. In the course of auditing, we have been able to track down the sum of Twenty Seven Million, Seven Hundred Thousand U.S. Dollars (US $27.7M) Only in the legal currency of the United States of America.

This money is floating in the Apex Bank pending claims. We want to quickly move this fund for safekeeping under care of a trustworthy partner;We are not allowed to operate any form of investment as civil servants in active service. Hence, We solicit for your kindest assistance to secure this fund under your custody for future investments in government approved projects in your country. .

We have also evolved a sharing formula as follows: -
1. 35% for "YOU" the foreign partner
2. 65% for Local partners
3. 5% Is set aside to defray all incidental expenses that may occur both locally and internationally during the course of this transaction.

Note that, this transaction is genuine and 100% safe and secured; considering our status and influence, it shall take us Fourteen (14) workings Days to conclude this deal; moreover let us point out to you here that this transaction should be top secret and confidential.

While looking forward to a swift and smooth business relationship with you, I trust to receive your prompt response.

Cordially yours,

Mr. Asiwaju Stephen
Auditor - (NNPC)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam