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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: hapuafrank@yahoo.co.in
Date: Fri, 31 Dec 2004 14:32:13 -0800
Subject: GOOD DAY




RE: TRANSFER OF US$28.6 AMERICAN DOLLARS INTO YOUR ACCOUNT

AFTER DUE DELIBERATION WITH MY COLLEAGUE, I DECIDED TO FORWARD TO YOU

THIS BUSINESS PROPOSAL, WE WANT YOU TO ASSIST US RECEIVE THE SUM OF TWENTY EIGHT MILLION, SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS (US$28.6M) INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.

THIS FUND RESULTED FROM AN OVER-INVOICED CONTRACT AWARDED BY US UNDER

THEBUDGET ALLOCATION TO MY MINISTRY AND THE BILL WAS APPROVED FOR PAYMENT BY THE CONCERNED MINISTRIES. THE CONTRACT WAS EXECUTED, COMMISSIONED AND THE CONTRACTOR WAS PAID HIS ACTUAL COST OF THE CONTRACT. WE ARE LEFT WITH THE BALANCE OF US$28.6M AS THE OVER INVOICED AMOUNT WHICH WE HAVE DELIBERATELY OVER ESTIMATED FOR OUR OWN USE BUT UNDER THE PROTOCOL DIVISION, CIVIL SERVANTS ARE FORBIDDEN TO OPERATE OR OWN FOREIGN ACCOUNTS.

THIS IS WHY, I CONTACT YOU FOR AN ASSISTANCE. WE HAVE AGREED TO SHARE THE MONEY AS

FOLLOWS:

1. 30% FOR YOU (ACCOUNT OWNER)

2. 60% FOR US

3. 10% FOR TAX, AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY YOUR GOVERNMENT.

AS YOU MAY WANT TO KNOW AND TO MAKE YOU LESS CURIOUS, I GOT YOUR ADDRESS FROM OUR REPUTABLE SOURCE WHICH WE WISH TO KEEP SECRET FOR SECURITY REASONS.

I AM THE EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF THE CONTRACT AWARD COMMITTEE OF THE

NIGERIA NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC). THIS TRANSACTION IS VERY MUCH FREE FROM ALL SORT OF RISK HENCE THE BUSINESS WAS CAREFULLY PLANNED BEFORE IT WAS EXECUTED AND WE THE NNPC OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN THE DEAL HAVE PUT MANY YEARS IN SERVICES TO OUR MINISTRY. WE HAVE BEEN EXERCISING PATIENCE FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR SO LONG AND TO MOST OF US, THIS IS A LIFE TIME OPPORTUNITY WE CANNOT AFFORD TO MISS.

UPON INDICATION OF YOUR INTEREST TO FULLY ASSIST US IN THIS

TRANSACTION, YOU ARE ADVISED TO FURNISH US WITH THE FOLLOWINGS:-

1. YOUR BANKER'S NAME AND ADDRESS

2. YOUR BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER

3. NAME OF THE BENEFICIARY OF THE ACCOUNT

4. YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS FOR EASY COMMUNICATION



THIS INFORMATION WILL ENABLE US SEEK APPROVAL OF THE FUND FROM THE

CONCERNED GOVERNMENT QUARTERS/MINISTRIES WITHIN 3-4 BANKING DAYS AND

THE NIGERIA NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC) PAYMENT

APPLICA-TION/INFORMATION DATA WILL BE FAXED IMMEDIATELY TO YOU FOR

COMPLETION. ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES AND I INVOLVED IN THIS DEAL WILL COME

OVER TO YOUR COUNTRY TO ARRANGE FOR OUR OWN SHARE UPON CONFIRMATION FROM YOU THAT THE MONEY HAS HIT YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT.

YOU ARE ADVISED NOT TO GO THROUGH INTERNATIONAL OPERATOR BECAUSE OF THE

CONFIDENTIALITY AND SENSITIVITY INVOLVED IN THIS TRANSACTION. LET

HONESTY AND TRUST BE OUR WATCHWORD THROUGHOUT THIS TRANSACTION. I SHALL FURNISH YOU WITH SOME DETAILS ABOUT MYSELF. YOUR PROMPT REPLY WILL BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED

PLEASE NOTE OUR COMMUNICATION CODE: 'IF YOUR CALL, YOU MUST ASK ME WHAT

IS THE NAME OF YOUR SON, MY ANSWER IS: MY SON'S NAME IS DR. IF I DON'T ANSWER WITHIN TWO SECONDS DROP THE PHONE AND CALL RIGHT BACK.'

BEST REGARDS.

ENGR ADAMS. I.S.A.

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