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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Ministry of Minerals and Energy Resource" <marcus_hawkins05@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2006 11:25:12 +0800
Subject: ATTN: GOOD FRIEND(Please Reply Asap)

ATTN: GOOD FRIEND(Please Reply Asap)
31st January,2006
TENDERS COMMITTEE
Contract Award and Review Commission,
Ministry of Minerals and Energy Resources. Nigeria.
Dear Friend/Partner,

I am Dr Marcus Hawkins a native of the Niger Delta Area of Nigeria and
Director of Project Implementation,Ministry of Minerals and Energy Resources.
I am making this contact with you based on the committee's need for an
individual/company who is willing to assist us with a solution to a
money transfer.

First and foremost,I apologize using this medium to reach you
for a transaction/business of this magnitude, but this is due to
confidentiality and prompt access reposed on this medium.

In unfolding this proposal, I want to count on you, as a
respected and honest person to handle this transaction with sincerity, trust and confidentiality.

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 as a top secret because of the nature of this transaction.

Within the Ministry of Minerals and Energy Resources,where I work as Director
of Project Implementation and with the cooperation of four other top
officials,we have in our possession as overdue payment bills totaling
Sixteen Million,Two Hundred and fifty Thousand United States Dollars , which we want to transfer abroad with the assistance and cooperation of a foreign company/individual to receive the said fund on our behalf or a reliable foreign non-company account to receivesuch funds.

Moreso, we are handicapped in the circumstances, as the Nigeria Civil
Service Code of Conduct does not allow us to operate offshore account
hence your importance in the whole transaction. This amount represents
the balance of the total contract value executed on behalf of my
Department(FMM@ER) by a foreign contracting firm, which we the officials over-invoiced deliberately.

Though the actual contract cost have been paid to the original
contractor,leaving the balance in the tune of the said amount which we have in principles gotten approval to remit by Key tested Telegraphic Transfer (K.T.T) to any foreign bank account you will provide by filing in an application through the Ministry of Justice in Abuja, for the
transfer of rights and privileges of the former contractor to
you.

I have the authority of my partners involved to propose that
should you be willing to assist us in the transaction, your share of the sum will be negotiated and funds for miscellaneous expenses shall be set aside .

The business itself is safe, on your part provided you treat it with utmost secrecy and confidentiality.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. Endeavor to contact me immediately through my personal e-mail address including your confidential telephone number to enable me contact you for further details or to confirm whether or not
you are interested in this deal.

If you are not, it will enable me scout for another foreign partner to
carryout this deal. I want to assure you that my partners and myself are in a position to make the payment of this claim possible provided you can give us a very strong assurance and guarantee that our share will be secured and please, remember to treat this matter very confidential , because we will not comprehend with any form
of exposure as we are still in active Government Service.

Once again, remember that time is of great essence in this transaction.
I wait in anticipation of your fullest co-operation.
Yours faithfully,

Dr Marcus Hawkins (Ph.D)

N/B PLEASE SEND IN YOUR RESPONSE TO THIS ADDRESS THUS:marcus_hawkins05@yahoo.com



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