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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: ENGINEER JOHNSON BRUCE <engrjohnsonnnpc@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <engrbruce_johnson@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2007 13:15:59 +0100
Subject: Re: Confidential Business Proposal



PRIVATE MEMO AND STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
From the Desk of: Engr. Chim Zam Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Lagos, Nigeria. Dear Sir, Re: Confidential Business Proposal Having consulted with my colleagues and based on the information gathered from the Nigerian Chambers Of Commerce And Industry, I have the privilege to request your assistance to transfer the sum of $47,500, 000.00 (forty seven million, five hundred thousand United States dollars) into your accounts. The above sum resulted from an over-invoiced contract, executed; commissioned and original sum has been paid by this present regime in their first tenure for about five years (5) ago to a foreign contractor. This action was however intentional and since then the fund has been in a suspense account at The Central Bank Of Nigeria Apex Bank. We are now ready to transfer the over invoiced fund overseas and that is where you come in. It is important to inform you that as civil servants, we are forbidden to operate a foreign account; that is why we require your assistance. The total sum will be shared as follows: 75% for us, 15% for you and 20% for local and international expenses incidental to the transfer. The transfer is risk free on both sides. I am an accountant with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). If you find this proposal acceptable, we shall require the following documents: (a) Your banker's name, telephone, and account and fax numbers. (b) Your private telephone and fax numbers — for confidentiality and easy communication. (c) Your letter-headed paper stamped and signed. Alternatively we will furnish you with the text of what to type into your letter-headed paper, along with a breakdown explaining, comprehensively what we require of you. The business will take us twenty eight (28) working days to accomplish, and we hope to have a favorable response from you in this business that will surely enrich all of us involved. Please reply urgently. Best regards Engr. Chim Zam

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