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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: "Engr. House Okonkwo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <engr.house.okonkwo1@globomail.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Aug 2011 09:57:17 -0700
Subject: Very Much Important To Read

 
Federal Ministry of Transport and Aviation (FMTA).
           Abuja Office Complex Abuja (FCT).
From The Desk of:  Engr. House Okonkwo(KSS).                                                      Date: April 27, 2011
Email address:  engr.house.okonkwo1@globomail.com
Tel: 234-703-7401857
                                          URGENT INVESTMENT PROJECT
Dear Sir,
 
with esteemed regard and confidentiality, we send you this information. We are members of a five man Contract Review Panel/Task Force, set up by the Federal Government to review and recommend to the government, completed contract projects in the Federal Ministry of Transport and Aviation(FMTA) Project at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja (FCT), and Port Harcourt International Airport -  Omagwa (Rivers State), and furthermore, advice on payment procedures to prospective beneficiaries.
In the course of carrying out this vital assignment, we realized that huge amount of money US$72,530,000.00 (Seventy Two Million, Five Hundred and Thirty Thousand United States Dollars) is currently floating in the FMTA account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which we found out that their existence is as a result of over inflated invoice from various contracts, which till today remained unclaimed. We therefore have decided to transfer this money out of the country for our own benefit. It is this inflated amount in the sum of US$72,530,000.00 (Seventy Two Million, Five Hundred and Thirty Thousand United States Dollars) that we seek your assistance to pay through your channel by including your name in the schedule for payment.
 
The Federal Government of Nigeria is currently short listing names of successful contractors whose contract job has been fully executed and commissioned, between 2007-2010, in order to effect their payment, as this is one of the top priorities in the agenda of this present government. We want to seek your assistance with respect to facilitating this opportunity to enable us include your nameamong the successful beneficiaries of the confirmed contract payments.
 
We have made elaborate consultations and agreed unanimously on investing this money into a profitable business in your Country through your able assistance and cooperation.  Upon the successful confirmation of the money in your custody, we agreed that you shall hold 25% of the total sum, and you shall advice on the area of investment you will put in our share of the money. We are still in service, so, you shall be in control the investment on a five years period agreement.
 
Be 100% assured that all we shall do shall be legally guided as you are guaranteed of your protection and no risk on your part. This business will last for about 14 working days, if you give us your maximum cooperation.
 
We look forward to your response and indication of positive interest to work with us in this project.If this proposal interests you, please send the following requirements to us;
 
1.        Your full Names.
2.        Your Correspondence Address.
3.        Your direct Telephone and Mobile numbers.
4.        Age and Sex
5.        Occupation
 
We have to engage in a brief discussion with you over the telephone, to give you more information concerning this transaction, on our receipt of your indication of interest to this proposal.
Thank you in anticipation of your reply.
 
Yours faithfully,
 
Engr. House Okonkwo.
 

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