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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: "DR.Steve Mmaduka" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <stevemak@minister.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 2016 04:42:13 -0500
Subject: From: DR.Steve Mmaduka

From: DR.Steve Mmaduka
 
SUBJECT:URGENT NEEDED
 
DEAR SIR,
 
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
 
I AM THE FINANCIAL CONTROLLER IN THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC) HERE IN LAGOS, MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ASSIGNED ME TO SEEK ASSISTANCE OF A RELIABLE FOREIGN COMPANY OR AN INDIVIDUAL THROUGH WHOM WE CAN TRANSFER THE SUM OF US$15,000,000 (FIFTEEN MILLION U.S. DOLLARS) WHICH AROSE FROM THE DELIBERATE OVER-INVOICING OF SOME CONTRACTS AWARDED BY THE CORPORATION IN THE TWILIGHT DAYS OF THE LAST MILITARY REGIME.
 
HOWEVER, THE CURRENT FAVOURABLE POLITICAL/ECONOMIC CLIMATE IN THE COUNTRY SINCE THE HAND OVER FROM MILITARY TO DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED GOVERNMENT NOW PRESENTED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS MONEY TO BE TRANSFERRED OUT OF THE COUNTRY.
 
YOUR CONTRACT ADDRESS WAS MADE AVAILABLE TO ME THROUGH A BUSINESS CONSULTANT.  HE ASSURED ME OF YOUR COMPANY'S VIABILITY AND CAPABILITY IN BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS THOUGH HE DID NOT KNOW MY REAL INTENTIONS, THIS ASSURANCE GAVE ME COURAGE TO LINK YOU UP FOR THIS PARTICULAR TRANSACTION, AND I HOPE IT WILL BE OF MUTUAL BENEFIT TO ALL OF US.
 
OUR CONTACTS IN THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA AND FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE HAVE GIVEN US A GO AHEAD ORDER FOR REMITTANCE, SO WE HAVE SET IN MOTION THE MACHINERY FOR THE TAKE OFF OF THIS TRANSACTION AND FURTHER ACTION WILL COMMENCE IMMEDIATELY WE HEAR FROM YOU, WE HAVE AGREED THAT AFTER THE TRANSFER OF THE  MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT, YOU SHALL BE ENTITLED TO 30% THE OFFICIALS AND MY COLLEAGUES SHALL TAKE 65% WHILE 5% SHALL BE MAPPED OUT TO COVER FOR LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPENSES THAT MAY BE INCURRED IN THE COURSE OF THIS TRANSACTION.
 
THE NATURE OF YOUR BUSINESS IS NOT PARTICULARLY RELEVANT FOR THE SUCCESS OF THIS TRANSACTION.  ALL WE REQUIRE IS YOUR WILLINGNESS TO COOPERATE AND ASSURANCE THAT OUR OWN SHARE WILL BE GIVEN TO US WHEN THIS MONEY IS TRANSFERRED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.
 
ALL NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO ENSURE A NO RISK  SITUATION ON THE SIDES OF BOTH PARTIES AND IT IS BELIEVED THAT THIS TRANSACTION WILL LAST FOR 10 WORKING DAYS, BARRING ANY DELAYS.
 
PLEASE IF THIS PROPOSAL IS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU, OR IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME THROUGH MY E-MAIL ADDRESS:( stevemak@minister.com )
 
BEST REGARDS.
 
DR.Steve Mmaduka

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