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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: Hassan Buhari <hassanbuhari404@yahoo.com.au>
Reply-To: hassanbhari405@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2006 08:21:53 +1000 (EST)
Subject: ATTENTION: SIR / MADAM


ATTENTION: SIR / MADAM,

IT IS WITH TRUST AND CONFIDENCE THAT I MAKE THIS URGENT AND IMPORTANT BUSINESS PROPOSAL TO YOU. MY NAME IS MR. HASSAN BUHARI, I AM A SENIOR ACCOUNTANT WITH THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC)HERE IN WEST AFRICA. I HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED BY MY COLLEAGUES TO SEEK FOR A FOREIGN PARTNER IN THE TRANSFER OF THE SUM OF US$10.5M(TEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) ONLY.

THIS MONEY AROSE FROM A DELIBERATE ACT OF OVER INVOICING OF A PARTICULAR CONTRACT AWARDED BY MY CORPORATION IN 2001 AND IT WAS SECURED UNDER CONTRACT NUMBER: FGN/NNPC/022996/CB/2001. WE HAVE BEEN SAFE GUARDING THIS MONEY SINCE THEN, AWAITING AN APPROPRIATE TIME WHEN THE MONEY CAN BE TRANSFERRED INTO A SAFE FOREIGN ACCOUNT FOR SAFE KEEPING PENDING OUR ARRIVAL FOR THE SHARING AND UTILIZATION WITH THE OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT.

NOW, THE NEW CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT HAS ORDERED THAT ALL DEBT OWED TO FOREIGN CONTRACTORS BY THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE PAID IMMEDIATELY. ON THE STRENGTH OF THIS ORDER, WE WISH TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT TO PRESENT YOU OR YOUR COMPANY AS ONE OF THE CONTRACTORS BEING OWED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

MEAN WHILE, WE HAVE AGREED THAT THE MONEY WILL BE SHARED THUS, 60% WILL BE FOR ME AND MY COLLEAGUES , 30% WILL BE FOR YOU FOR PROVIDING THE NECESSARY ASSISTANCE WHILE THE REMAINING 10% HAVE BEEN SET ASIDE FOR INCIDENTAL EXPENSES THAT MIGHT BE INCURRED DURING THE TRANSACTION.

NOTE, THAT THE NATURE OF YOUR COMPANYS' BUSINESS IS IRRELEVANT TO THIS TRANSACTION AS ALL ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN CONCLUDED FOR A SUCCESSFUL AND HITCH FREE TRANSACTION. NOTE THAT THIS MONEY IS STILL IN SUSPENSE ACCOUNT OF MY CORPORATION (NNPC) UNDER IT'S ACCOUNT WITH CENTRAL BANK.

YOU ARE REQUIRED TO EMAIL THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO US IMMEDIATELY TO ENABLE US PROCURE DOCUMENTS THAT WILL COVER YOU LEGALLY AND OFFICIALLY AS THE ORIGINAL CONTRACTOR/BENEFICIARY.INFORMATIONS ARE:

1. YOUR FULL NAME AND AGE .
2, YOUR COMPANY'S NAME AND ADDRESS
3. YOUR PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS.

WE HAVE TAKEN MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE NO RISK
INVOLVED ON BOTH PARTIES. WE HAVE ESTIMATED THAT THIS TRANSACTION WILL BE CONCLUDED WITHIN 14 WORKING DAYS ON RECEIPT OF YOUR ACCEPTANCE LETTER TO THIS PROPOSAL.

I AM EXPECTING YOUR URGENT AND FAVOURABLE RESPONSE SOONEST.
SINCERELY,
MR. HASSAN BUHARI.


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