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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: "Dr.Willson George" <willsonmails@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: drwillsongeorge_04@o2.pl
Date: Thu, 24 Nov 2005 01:12:17 +0000
Subject: FOREIGN ASSISTANCE NEEDED FOR INVESTMENT

DR.WILLSON GEORGE
Director,Audit and project Imp.
Min. of Mines & Power
Fed Sec. Lagos Annex

Dear Sir/Madam,

FOREIGN ASSISTANCE NEEDED FOR INVESTMENT

It is my great pleasure in writing you this letter on behalf of my
colleagues. Your information was given to me by a member of the
Nigeria/African Export Promotion Council (NAEPC) who was with the Federal
Government delegation on a trip to your country for a bilateral conference
talk to encourage foreign investors. I have decided to seek a confidential
co-operation with you in the execution of the deal described hereunder for
the benefit of all parties and hope you will keep it confidential because
of the nature of this business.

I work as a Director of Audit and Project Implementation in the Minsitry of
Energy, Mines and power. In co-operation with two other top officials and
my colleagues in the Ministry, we have in our possession funds we intend to
use for investment abroad. The said funds represent certain percentage of
the total contract value executed on behalf of my Department by a foreign
contracting firm which we the officials over-invoiced to the amount of
US$8.700,000.00<Eight million, Seven Hundred thousand USD>. Though the
actual contract cost has been paid to the original contractor, leaving the
excess balance unclaimed.

Since the present elected Government is determined to pay foreign
contractors all debts owed so as to maintain good relationship with foreign
government and non-government agencies, we include our bills for approvals
with the Department of Foreign Contract payment in the Ministry of Finance.
We are now seeking your assistance to front as beneficiary of the unclaimed
funds, since we are not allowed to operate foreign accounts.Details and
change of beneficiary information upon application for claim to reflect
payment and approvals will be secured on behalf of you/your company. You do
not have anything to worry as you will be paid directly by a Bank in Europe
where the Ministry is operating an account meant for it's foreign
contractors. Every other arrangement in nigeria has been taken care of.

I have the authority of my partners involved to propose that should you be
willing to assist us in this transaction your share as compensation will be
(30%),while my colleagues and I receive (65%) and the balance of (5%) for
taxation and miscellaneous expenses incurred. The business itself is 100%
safe and secure, provided you treat it with utmost confidentiality. It does
not matter whether you/your company does contract projects as a transfer of
powers will be secured in favour of you/your company and an instruction from
the Chief ACCOUNTANT of the Ministry to the Bank in Europe to pay you. Also
your area of specialization is not a hindrance to the successful execution
of this transaction. I have reposed my confidence in you and hope that you
will not disappoint me.

Kindly notify me at
(drwillsongeorge_info@o2.pl)
for further details upon your
acceptance of this proposal.

Thanks for your co-operation.
Regards,
DR.WILLSON GEORGE


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