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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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.

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "might come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "i got your address from " (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "contract award committee" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: engr_david okon <engr_davidokon74@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: engr_davidokon73@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2007 08:47:38 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: REQUEST FOR URGENT MUTUAL BUSINESS TRANSACTION


FROM THE DESK OF:Engr DAVID OKON
CHAIRMAN,CONTRACT AWARD COMMITTEE,N.N.P.C.
NNPC TOWERS,CENTRAL DISTRICT,LAGOS-NIGERIA,

Dear Sir/Madam

REQUEST FOR URGENT MUTUAL BUSINESS TRANSACTION.

Although this proposal might come to you as a surprise since it is coming from someone you don't know or ever seen before, but after due deliberation with my colleagues, we have decided to forward this business proposal to you. We want a reliable person who would assist us to transfer the sum of USD$30Million (Thirty million United States Dollars)into his or her nominated Bank Account.

This fund resulted from an over-invoiced bill from contract awarded by us under the budget allocation to my organization{NNPC}of Turn Around Maintainace and the bill was approved for payment by the appropriate authorities. The contract was executed, commissioned and the contractor was duly paid his full cost of the contract as stipulated in the contract agreement leaving behind the USD$30M.
Therefore, the over-invoiced Amount of USD$30M which we have
deliberately over estimated for our own use is what we need your assistance for transfer and for our mutual benefits. Due to the civil services code of conduct here in Nigeria, civil servants are not allowed to operate or own foreign account. This is why we are contacting you for assistance in this regard.

We have agreed to share the money as follows:(1)35% for your Assistance the Account Owner.(2) 55% for US and (3) 10% for
tax/expenses, as may be required by your Government and ours.

As you may want to know and make you less curious, I got your address from a reputable Large chamber of commerce and industry and I am the executive chairman of the contract Award committee of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). This transaction is very much free from all sort of risk hence this business was carefully planned before it was successfully executed and we the NNPC officials involved in the deal have put in many years of meritorious service to our organization.

We have been exercising patience for this opportunity for so long and for most of us this is a life time opportunity we cannot afford to miss. To get this fund into your account, we have to present an international business outfit and consequent upon indication of your interest to fully assist us in this transaction, you are required to furnish us with the followings:(A)Your Full Name and Your Home Address(B) Your International Passport or Drivers Licence for Documentation (C) Your Private Telephone/Fax Numbers for easy communication. This information will enable us apply for approval of the fund from the concerned quarters within three to four banking days and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) payment information data will be faxed/Email immediately to you for completion.

Your line of business in this transaction does not matter. Honesty and your ability to keep it secret and keep our own share safe when the money hits your account is what matters.

Your prompt reply will be highly appreciated.
Best regards,
Engr DAVID OKON
Chairman Contract Award Committee,
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation{N.N.P.C}.



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam