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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: "Western Union Money Transfer" <hawida57@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: alfred.westy@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 8 May 2010 21:15:27 -0000 (GMT)
Subject: PERMISSION TO REMIT US $10 MILLION INTO YOUR COMPANY OR PRIVATE
ACCOUNT.

FROM:DR. ISMAILA YUSUF
NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION
FEDERAL SECRETARIAT COMPLEX (ANNEX)FALOMON-LAGOS

PERMISSION TO REMIT US $10 MILLION INTO YOUR COMPANY OR PRIVATE ACCOUNT.

It is my pleasure to write and inform you of a transaction involving the
transfer of $10M(TEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY) only into a
foreign account for safekeeping pending my arrival with my colleagues for
the sharing with you as the account owner into which the money is
remitted.

I am an accountant with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
(NNPC), Lagos and this money originated from over-invoiced contract
executed for the corporation some years back. This contract has long been
completed by a foreign firm and the contractor duly paid. I now seek if
you would permit the surplus to be remitted into your account. As a matter
of fact, we are top government officials and we cannot come out openly to
claim this amount. This is why we are looking for a competent and honest
company or individual abroad whose documents would be tendered by us here
in Nigeria as one of the contractors that executed the project.

However, I would wish to receive your personal assurance that you would
not sit on the money when it goes into your account. More importantly, you
keep confidential this transaction, in order not to tarnish the confidence
repose in the officials involved in this transaction. To effect this
transfer, I therefore request the following: YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER, THE NAME
OF YOUR BANK. WHERE THE MONEY WOULD BE TRANSFERRED INTO AND ALSO YOUR
PRIVATE FAX AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR QUICK COMMUNICATION.

So far, after due consultations, you were strongly and reliably
recommended to us although we have not met or entered into any kind of
contract with you before as to know the extent of your honesty, but based
on the recommendations, I personally want to believe that you are honest
enough and would not sit on the money if finally got into your account. It
is on this note that I consider it proper to write you asking for your
permission and support to transfer this amount into your account. You
should not fear any risk because we have concluded arrangement to save
guide you in the transaction. This business is 100% risk free. Hence it
requires high level of confidence and secrecy. Meanwhile this is the
breakdown of the sharing modalities: (A). 5% WILL BE USED TO SETTLE
TRANSFER CHARGES AND LEGALPROTOCOLS. (B). 30% IS FOR USING YOUR ACCOUNT.
(C). 65% OF IT WILL BE FOR US THE ORIGINATORS.

Be informed that on completion of this business I will use part of my
money to invest in your country under your care. Please note that the
transfer operation will take seven to ten working days to be completed.
Please contact me by the above e-mail .

Thanks.
DR. Ismaila Yusuf



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