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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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Fraud email example:

From: "SKY INC" <phils232004@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 11 Nov 2005 18:47:26 +0000
Subject: Mutual benefits .......

Hello,
 
This is to seek your co-operation as my foreign  partner and your assistance to enable me own property and invest in the stable economy of your country.   Accept my apologies if this mail does not suit your personal or business ethics.
 
Though, this medium (Internet) has been greatly abused, I choose to reach you through it because it still remains the fastest, surest and most secured  medium of communication.         However, this correspondence is purely Private, and it should be treated as such.
 
I represent a Group that is interested in engaging your service as manager For Investment Purpose,of a large Volume of fund.   In view however of rampant cases of Fraud which have been associated with Ventures like this,and also the fact quite known to me about some people from our country doing transactions like this,who ended up being defrauded by
foreigners.
 
This is in my capacity as the chairperson of the senate financial committee on foreign  contracts verification and payments (Member, Contract Review Panel [CRPC] our good fortune is that we are privy to such classified information.
 
I am also the Financial Controller of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Lagos, Nigeria and Secretary to the Contract Award Committee of my Ministry.    In collaboration with my colleagues,we have agreed to transfer out of the Country some amount and we will later reinvest in your country after the success of this transaction.
 
The amount in question is $16 Million Sixteen Million,US Dollars (US$16,000,000.00) my country's prudential policy prohibits us from operating a foreign account,the money is presently kept in the safe custody of the Overseas Credit Commission which is a Security and finance
company in my country for security purpose .
 
If you would like to assist me as a partner, please kindly indicate your interest after which we shall both discuss on the modalities .     All other information to facilitate the remittance of the funds will be revealed to you in due course .
 
This is as a result of over inflated amount of a contract,the contract has been already executed and the original contractor had collected his full and  final payment .   
In as much as this contract was awarded to  a Foreign Contractor and the payment made in dollars, we now need a foreign firm that will present itself as the contractor for this amount of
Sixteen  Million US Dollars then the fund will be transferred into your account.
 
I will appreciate if you let me know if in the past you have handled a project like this,and what capacity.      On the alternative, if you are presently  handling any matters like this.
 
This is important,as what we are involved in requires maximum devotion,devoid of any kind of distraction,as we shall not entertain any kind of compromise,even while ensuring that our interest and yours are accorded due  assurance.
 
Please do indicate your direct telephone and fax number when replying to this business proposal as I will be calling you when necessary so please provide me the details.
 
A swift acknowledgement on the receipt of this mail through this my email address will be highly appreciated.
 
Best regards,
 
Philip Suttie

 

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