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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: "walter agu" <walteragunnpc1@handbag.com>
Reply-To: walteragunnpc@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2005 20:31:48 -0700
Subject: REPLY SOON

HELLO,
GOOD DAY,
REQUEST FOR URGENT BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP
ALTHOUGH THIS PROPOSAL MIGHT COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE
SINCE IT IS COMING FROM SOMEONE YOU DO NOT KNOW OR EVER
SEEN BEFORE, BUT AFTER DUE DELIBERATION WITH MY COLLEAGUES,
I DECIDED TO FORWARD THIS BUSINESS PROPOSAL TO YOU WE WANT A RELIABLE PERSON
WHO COULD ASSIST US TO TRANSFER THE SUM OF FIFTY ONE MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS (US$51.5 MILLION) INTO HIS/HER ACCOUNT.


THIS FUND RESULTED FROM AN OVER INVOICED BILL FROM A CONTRACT AWARDED BY
US FOR THE TURN AROUND MAINTENANCE (T.A.M) CARRIED OUT ON THE FOUR REFINERIES
IN NIGERIA DURING THE LAST MILITARY
REGIME OF GENERAL ABDULSALAMI ABUBAKAR.

WE AWARDED THIS CONTRACT UNDER THE BUDGET ALLOCATION TO MY PARASTATAL,
THE BILL WAS APPROVED FOR PAYMENT AND THE CONTRACT HAS BEEN EXECUTED AND
THE ORIGINAL CONTRACTOR WAS PAID HIS ACTUAL COST OF THIS CONTRACT WE ARE
LEFT WITH THE BALANCE OF US$51.5 MILLION DOLLARS AS THE OVER INVOICED AMOUNT,
WHICH WE HAVE DELIBERATELY OVER ESTEMATED FOR OUR OWN USE, BUT UBDER OUR
PROTOCOL DIVISION,
CIVIL SERVANTS ARE FORBIDDEN TO OPERATE OR OWN FOREIGN ACCOUNT. THIS IS
WHY I AM CONTACTING YOU FOR ASSISTANCE.

WE HAVE AGREED TO SHARE THE MONEY AS FOLLOWS.
(1) 20% FOR YOU THE ACCOUNT OWNER
(2) 70% FOR US (THE OFFICIALS)
(3) 10% TO BE USED IN SETTLING TAXATION AND ALL LOCAL / FOREIGN EXPENSES

I AM THE EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF THE CONTRACT AWARD COMMITTEE OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES THIS TRANSACTION IS VERY MUCH FREE FROM ALL SORT OF
RISK BECAUSE THIS BUSINESS WAS CAREFULLY PLANNED BEFORE IT WAS SUCCESSFULLY
EXECUTED AND WE THE OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN THIS DEAL HAVE IN MANY YEARS OF
MERITOROUS SERVICES TO OUR PARASTAL. WE HAVE BEEN EXERCISING PATIENCE FOR
THIS
OPPORTUNITY FOR SO LONG AND FOR MOST OF US THIS IS A LIFETIME.
OPPORTUNITY WE CANNOT AFFORD TO MISS. TO GET THIS FUND INTO YOUR ACCOUNT,
WE HAVE TO PRESENT AN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS OUTFIT AND CONSEQUENT UPON INDICATION
OF YOUR INTEREST TO FULLY ASSIST US IN THIS TRANSACTION , YOU ARE ADVISED
TO FURNISH US WITH THE FOLLOWING
(1) THE BANK IN WHICH YOU WOULD WANT THE US$51.5MILLION TO BE PAID INTO

(11) BENEFICIARY OF THE ACCOUNT.
(111) YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBER FOR EASY COMMUNICATION. THIS
INFORMATION WILL ENABLE US SEEK APPROVAL OF THE FUND FROM THE CONCERNED QUARTERS
WITHIN 5-7 BANKING DAYS
AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES PAYMENT INFORMATION DATA WILL BE
FAXED IMMEDIATELY TO YOU FOR COMPLETION. ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES AND I INVOLVED
IN THIS DEAL WILL COME TO YOUR CONTRY TO ARRANGE FOR OUR SHARE UPON CONFORMATION
FROM YOU THAT THE MONEY HAS HIT YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT.

ALL THESE WILL ONLY TAKE US ABOUT 14 WORKING DAYS TO TRANSFER THIS FUND INTO
YOUR ACCOUNT FROM THE DAY WE RECEIVE THE REQUIREMENTS. YOUR LINE OF BUSINESS
IN THIS TRANSACTION DOES NOT MATTER. HONESTY AND YOUR ABILITY TO KEEP IT
SECRET AND KEEP OUR OWN SHARE SAFE
WHEN THE MONEY HITS YOUR ACCOUNT IS WHAT MATTERS IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE
PERFECTLY UNDERSTAND AND CO-OPERATE WITH ONE ANOTHER TO ENSURE THAT THIS
BUSINESS IS SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDED. I WILL BRING YOU INTO THE COMPLETE PICTURE
OF THIS PENDING TRANSACTION WHEN I HAVE HEARD FROM YOU.

YOUR PROMPT REPLY WILL BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED.
AN AITERNETIVE EMAIL IS walteragu12005@yahoo.com
BEST REGARDS.
DR. WALTER AGU,

EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN
CONTRACT AWARDING COMMITTEE DEPARTMENT {NNPC}.


___________________________________________________________

Book yourself something to look forward to in 2005.
Cheap flights - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/flights/
Bargain holidays - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/holidays/



Anti-fraud resources: