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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: john martins <john_martins_111@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Nov 2006 11:34:15 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Dr.JOHN MRTINS


Dr.JOHN MRTINS
SIR
REQUEST FOR URGENT BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP
WE ARE MAKING THIS CONTACT WITH YOU AFTER SATISFACTORY INFORMATION WE GATHERED FROM THE FOREIGN TRADE OFFICE NIGERIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTR HIGHLIGHTING OUR COMPANY´S PROFILE. WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE PROJECT CONSULTING ANDCONTRACT AWARDING COMMITTEE OF THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC). WE ARE AS CONVINCED AS TO BELIVE
THAT YOU WILL PROVIDE US WITH A SOLUTION TO EFFECT A REMITTANCE OF FUND RESULTIN FROM OVER INVOICING OF JOB/ SERVICES DONE TO THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION BY A FOREIGN CONTRACTOR, CONTRACT NO:NPC/PED/AJO/1088/2000. THIS
PROJECT HAS BEEN FULLY EXECUTED AND COMMISSIONED.
THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT IN NIGERIA HAS DUE TO THE BILATERAL AGREEMENT REACHED WITH THE WORLD BANK AND IMF, DIRECTED THAT ALL DEBTS OWENED BY FOREIGN CONTRACTORS BE
PAID. WE ARE THEREFORE DESIROUS OF TRANSFERRING THE OVE INVOICE SUM OF FOURTY MILLION US DOLLAR (40,000,000,00) ONLY INTO YOUR COMPANY´S OR PRIVATE ACCOUNT. NOTE, AS CIVIL SERVANTS, WE ARE NOT PERMITTED TO OWN FOREIGN ACCOUNT BY NIGERIAN
CIVIL SERVICE LAW. THEREFORE, INORDER TO FACILITATE THE TRASFER OF THIS FUND INTO YOUR ACCOUNT, YOU ARE URGED. TO REPLY THROUGH THE ABOVE EMAIL ADDRESS FOR CONFIDENTIAL AND FOR THE URGENT NATURE OF THIS TRANSACTION. THE FOLLOWING ARE REQURED FROM YOU.
(1) YOUR COMPANY´S NAME AND ADDRESS
(2) YOUR PERSONAL OR COMPANY´S BANK NAME, ADDRESS
ACCOUNT NUMBER AND TELEX NO.
(3) YOUR PRIVATE AND OFFICIAL TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBER
THE FUND WILL BE SHARED AS FOLLOWS 30% OF THE TOTAL VALUE SHOULD GO TO YOU AS THE OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT, WHILE 60% SHALL BE RELEASES TO US WHEN WE ARRIVE YOUR COUNTRY AFTER THE TRANSFER, THEN 10% WILL BE FOR EXPENSES INCURRED BY BOTH PARTIES
IN THE COURSE OF THE TRANSFER INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. ON RECEIPT OF YOUR PAPERS, WE WILL TENDER AN APPLICATION FOR PAYMENT AT THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA, FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND ITS AFFILIATE MINISTRIES. FINALLY, THE CONFIDENCE AND TRUST CONFERED ON YOU CANNOT BE OVER EMPHASISED;
THEREFORE YOU ARE TO KEEP THIS TRANSACTION TO YOURSELF AND FOR CONFIDENTIAL REASONS I WILL BE EXPECTING YOUR CALL AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS LETTER FOR FURTHER EXPLANATIONS. THANKS FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED ASSISTANCE.
BEST REGARD.
Dr JOHN MARTINS
CHAIRMAN CONTRACT AWARD COMMITTEE (NNPC)

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