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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: "Ali Shahad" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ali_shahadly@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2012 02:23:32 +0100
Subject: Assistance Needed

Good day,

I am Mr. Ali Shahad, a director in the project and planning department of the National Oil Corporation of Libya,

I head a new seven man Tenders Board Committee in charge of contract award and Payment approvals. I came to know of you in my search for a reliable and reputable person to handle a very confidential project, which involves the movement of cash to a foreign account.

There were series of contracts executed by a consortium of Multinationals in the oil industry in favor of the Libyan National Oil Corporation among which were;

• The expansion of Pipeline network within Libya for crude oil and downstream products distribution and subsequent evacuation - GBP2 Billion.
• Contract for Turn Around Maintenance ( TAM ) of various Refineries in the country.
• The construction of Storage Tanks for Petroleum Product (Depots)- GBP 94 Million.

These contracts were awarded during the regime of the now deceased former president of Libya who was killed in the war. What we noticed is that the contracts were over-invoiced in the sum of Five million, Five Hundred Thousand British Pounds Sterling GBP 5,500,000.00) which has already been approved for immediate payment. However the contractors have already been paid, it is the over invoiced sum that we want to transfer to you.

Since the war is now over and we are now in charge of contract award and payment. Britain's Royal Air Force have been flying in crates of freshly printed bank notes worth approximately ?140 million to Libya to help us pay public workers and banks to replenish cash machines. The money is part of a consignment Britain is releasing to ease the country's cash flow problems. All libyan funds that were frozen in foreign banks are all being flown in Raw Cash. Also, All unpaid contracts to foreign contractors are being paid directly from Libyan Foreign Reserves Abroad because our banking systems have not started full international operations. You can check this site to verify it.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2032511/Libya-RAF-flies-1st-950m-cash-help-kick-start-economy.html

I and my colleagues are willing to move the total amount into your account for subsequent disbursement, since we are prohibited by law from opening and/or operating foreign accounts. Needless to say, the trust reposed in you at this juncture is enormous. In return, we have agreed amongst ourselves to offer you a reasonable part of the money, 5% shall be set aside for any incidental expenses during the course of this project, you will then be mandated to revert the balance to us in due course.

You must however NOTE that this project is subject to the following terms and conditions; our conviction of your transparent honesty and diligence, that you must accord this project with utmost confidentiality and secrecy. Modalities have been worked out at the highest levels of the Ministry 0f Finance, Libyan Central Bank and the National Transition Council on Contract Payment for the movement of the funds within 10 - 14 working days subject to your satisfaction of the above terms.

To accord this project the legality it deserves, and for mutual security of funds, the whole procedures shall be legally processed with your name or any company you may nominate as the bona fide final Contract payment beneficiary. Once more, I want you to understand that having put in over 20 years in the Civil Service of my country; I am very much averse to having my image and career dented. This matter should therefore be treated with utmost secrecy and urgency. Kindly expedite immediate action as we are well behind schedule to enable us include this transfer in the Last Batch of the 2011 fiscal year contract payments.

BEST REGARDS.

Mr. Ali Shahad
ali.shahad@blumail.org

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