419 scam: "Abdulahi Gana" <abdulahi@arabmillenterprises.com> ATTENTION

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- ",500,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- chairmannigerianationalnnpc@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Abdulahi Gana" <abdulahi@arabmillenterprises.com>
Reply-To: CHAIRMANNIGERIANATIONALNNPC@GMAIL.COM
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2015 17:11:54 -0400
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: (CHAIRMANNIGERIANATIONALNNPC@GMAIL.COM)

Best Regards,
Mr.Abdulahi Gana

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