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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: "CURTIS CLIFFORD" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <curtis_cliff@w.cn>
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2011 16:07:26 +0100
Subject: Urgent reply needed

Dear sir,
 
I am Mr.Curtis Clifford, chairman of  the contract award committee for the petroleum special trust Funds in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
I know that this letter will come to you as a surprise since we have not met in person. Kindly bear with me as we are in search for a reliable and honest partner abroad that we can entrust with the sum of us$37 million.
These funds originated from contract we executed for the petroleum trust fund (PTF)
Purpose for the supply and installations of oil-pipeline to Port-Harcourt and Warri Refineries. This contract has been executed and full payments have been made to the contractors who executed these contract leaving behind us$35 million) as an over-invoice amount which was deliberately inflated by me and the rest of the committee
members. In view of the prevailing circumstances, my colleagues have mandated me to look for a foreign partner abroad who will receive the funds on our behalf, which means that you will provide us with any Bank Account of your choice where we can lodge these funds immediately.
 
I will be visiting your country upon your confirmation
of receipt of funds into your nominated Bank Account to know you better and discuss investment or importation of goods back to our country.
DISBURSEMENT OF THE FUND IS AS FOLLOWS:30% of the total sum will be your share While 60% will be for me and my colleagues 10% will be an outstanding amount to settle any incurred expenses during the transfer. we assure you that this transaction is 100%
risk free and very legitimate as all modalities have been perfected by us with our connection in government and there is full documented proof of funds origin.
What matters most is honesty on your side and for you to keep everything confidential until this fund is duly remitted into your nominated Bank Account. If you are interested in doing business with us, please do not hesitate to email me as a matter of urgency with your contact phone and fax numbers so that I can give you more
details.
Please send your reply via curtis_cliff@w.cn
Best Regards.
 
 
Mr. Curtis Clifford

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