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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: "Mr. Philip" <philipeze@ibibo.com>
Reply-To: philip.eze@ibibo.com
Date: Sat, 15 Oct 2011 19:49:17 +0700
Subject: US$28.5M BUSINESS PROPOSAL




It is my profound intention to make this mutually benefiting but
confidential business proposal to you. My name is Dr. Philip Ezoma the
Contract Award Committee Chairman in the Nigerian National Petroleum
Cooperation (NNPC). I know that this proposal may come to you as a
surprise, but I would like to appeal for your co-operation to enable us
secure an approval for a total sum of US$28.5Million being the over
invoiced contract amount for a wire transfer to your nominated bank
account.
Early last year there was a major oil spillage in the Niger Delta Region
of Nigeria which rendered over 70% of the communities homeless. So the
federal government decided to lease the three existing petroleum
refineries to private individuals and companies to make the refineries
more viable, resourceful and to eliminate undue wastage and fraud. So
contracts were awarded to a foreign firm for the repair and construction
of new refineries, but because of the huge monetary profit we envisaged we
decided to over-invoice the contract sum. The real contract value was
US$91.5Million, but it was over estimated to the tune of US$120Million.
Now the contract has been completed and the original contractor has since
been paid, but the contract balance of US$28.5Million, which resulted from
the over invoiced contract sum is been left in a suspense account with the
CENTRAL BANK corresponding paying bank in Europe.
I have been assigned by my other colleagues to seek for assistance of a
reliable foreigner through whom we can transfer this sum of US$28.5Million
which arose from the deliberate over-inflated contract value. It does not
matter whether you or your company does contract project of the nature
described here, but the assumption is that you won a major contract and
subcontracted it to another company, more often non big trading companies
or individuals of unrelated field win major contracts here and
subcontracts same to more specialized firms for execution. So the nature
of your business is not particularly relevant for the success of this
transaction. All we require is your willingness as a foreigner to
co-operate with us and assurance that our own share will be given to us
when this money is transferred into your account. Then we shall use our
position to secure all the government approvals in your favor to enable
the transfer to your nominated bank account.
We have agreed that you will be entitled to 25% of the entire funds, 70%
will be for us, while 5% will be set aside to cover any unforeseen
expenses that may be incurred by both parties during this transaction,
both local and international.
Please I enjoin you to handle this transaction with utmost degree of
maturity and confidentiality because I am still in active government
service with the NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION. All necessary
precautions have been taken to ensure a no risk situation on the sides of
both parties and it is believed that the conclusion of this transaction
will not last more than 8 working days, since the money is already in
transit account with the corresponding paying bank in Europe. However, we
are going to retrieve the whole documents that will relate to this
transaction after the transfer of the money into your account to avoid any
trace of the money.
I will call you when I receive your direct telephone number to discuss
this more with you and also send you all the details immediately as I
receive your reply.
Please treat as very confidential matter.
Much Regards,
Dr. Philip Ezoma
Reply to: nnpc_contracts@ibibo.com


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