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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: Gana Abdulahi <abdulahigana1@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 14:38:45 +0100
Subject: ATTENTION

Mr. Abdulahi Gana
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. (NNPC)
Nigeria

Dear Friend,

I apologize contacting you through this medium. it's just the need of
the matter that propelled me to reach you via this medium, hope you
will understand after reading my email.
Well, it is my pleasure to write this mail basically to seek your
consent on this issue which involves an over-invoiced sum of money
from my ministry Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which
I would like you and I to work out together for our mutual benefit and
for investments.

The amount involved is US$25m. I am the Chairman Contracts Award
Committee in my ministry Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
(NNPC). There is an intentional over-invoiced contract award to a firm
(WOLFF & MULLER HOLDING GMBH & CO) worth US$145,500,000.00 as the face
value of the contract. The actual contract value was US$120,500,000.00
leaving an excess of US$25,000,000.00 which is why I solicit your
consent to work out the excess fund for our mutual benefit.

So, the said mark up of US$25m was intentionally inflated for private
use and for investment so to say. At the moment the contract has been
completed and full face value of the entire contract US$145,500,000.00
was approved by the governing council of the ministry. In view of the
approval the real value of the contract US$120,500,000.00 has been
paid to the contractor that executed the contract. I therefore write
for us to work out the remaining balance of US$25m since it has also
been approved for payment to a sub-contractor which is how the over
invoicing was added to the principal contract value for official
payment approval to be granted by the governing council alongside the
principal contract approval.


Now, the remaining balance of US$25m is what I intend to move secretly
for investment using your details as the sub-contractor to suit the
arrangement. This is an official process and there is no single risk
involved from the beginning to the end and in future. Off-course, you
should understand this transaction requires absolute confidentiality.
It needs perfect secrecy, I repeat please as we work as partners to
get this achieved within few days.

We shall discuss other modalities including timing and sharing of the
proceeds on receipt of your readiness to work this out with me. Reply
to my private email: (CHAIRMANABDULAHIGANA@GMAIL.COM)

Best Regards,
Mr.Abdulahi Gana

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