419 scam: "FROM THE OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF FINANCE (NNPC)"<angel@zzu.edu.cn> FROM THE OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF FINANCE (NNPC)

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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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "into your nominated bank account" (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)
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "nigeria national petroleum corporation" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2347063087182

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <dr.usmanahmed@live.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:57:50 -0800
Subject: FROM THE OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF FINANCE (NNPC)

FROM THE OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF FINANCE (NNPC)
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT
TINUBU SQUARE,VICTORIA ISLAND,
LAGOS-NIGERIA.
NNPC CONTRACT #: MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009
Swift Code: BPH KPL PK,
Our Ref:NNPC/IRD/NNX/21/09
Mobile Number: + 234-7063087182

WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE DELAY OF YOUR PAYMENT AND ALL THE INCONVENIENCES
WE MIGHT HAVE PUT YOU THROUGH, WHILE WE WERE HAVING SOME MINOR
PROBLEMS WITH OUR PAYMENT SYSTEM WHICH IN ALL CASE NOT MEETING UP WITH
FOREIGN PAYMENTS,WE APOLOGIZE ONCE AGAIN.

FROM THE RECORDS OF OUTSTANDING CONTRACTORS DUE FOR PAYMENT WITH THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA, YOUR NAME AND COMPANY WAS DISCOVERED AS
NEXT ON THE LIST OF THE (13) OUTSTANDING CONTRACTORS WHO HAVE NOT YET
RECEIVED THEIR PAYMENTS DURING THE (8)YEARS TENURE OF THE PREVIOUS
ADMINISTRATION IN OFFICE PLEASE BEAR WITH US FOR MAKING THE INITIAL
CONTACT THROUGH EMAIL. MEANWHILE, A WOMAN CAME TO MY OFFICE A FEW DAYS
AGO WITH A LETTER, CLAIMING TO BE
YOUR TRUE REPRESENTATIVE.

HERE IS HER INFORMATION BELOW:

NAME ANNE ROBINSON
BANK NAME: CITIBANK, ARIZONA, USA.
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 6503809008.

PLEASE, DO RECONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE, AS A MATTER OF URGENCY IF THIS
WOMAN IS FROM YOU SO THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE HELD
RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING INTO THE WRONG ACCOUNT NAME IF THIS WOMAN IS
NOT YOUR REP, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO FILL AND SEND THIS INFORMATION FOR
VERIFICATIONS PURPOSES SO THAT YOUR FUND VALUED ($12.5 MILLION) US
DOLLARS WILL BE REMITTED INTO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT.

KINDLY RE-CONFIRM TO ME THE FOLLOWINGS:

1) YOUR FULL NAME
2) PHONE, FAX AND MOBILE
3) COMPANY NAME, POSITION AND ADDRESS.
4) PROFESSION,
AGE AND MARITAL STATUS.
5) WORKING I?D/INT'L PASSPORT.
6) FATHER'S NAME
7) MOTHER'S NAME

AS SOON AS THIS INFORMATION IS RECEIVED, YOUR PAYMENT WILL BE MADE TO
YOU IN A CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT OR WIRED TO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT
DIRECTLY FROM A COMMERCIAL BANK HERE IN NIGERIA. THIS IS THE FIRST
QUARTER PAYMENT OF THE YEAR.

HOWEVER; WE SHALL PROCEED TO ISSUE ALL PAYMENTS DETAILS TO THE SAID
MRS.ANNE ROBINSON, IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU WITHIN THE NEXT THREE
WORKING DAYS FROM TODAY. WE ARE SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THE DELAY
IN TRANSFERRING OF YOUR FUND MUST HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY YOU. CONTACT US
AT (dr.usmanahmed@live.com)

NB.THE NIGERIA NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION AWARDED THE FUNDS TO YOU
IN ORDER FOR YOU TO ESTABLISH A REFINERY THERE IN THE UNITED STATE,
THEN WE COULD IMPORT CRUDE OIL TO YOU AND THAT YOU SHOULD BE ONE OF
OUR AGENT IN THE STATE. WE WILL GIVE YOU FURTHER INSTRUCTION AS SOON
AS YOU RECEIVE THE FUNDS.

BEST REGARDS.
DR USMAN AHMED.
NNPC DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam