419 scam: "general contact"<test@surgut.ans.aero> URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL

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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:

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:
- "might come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "30% for you " (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)
- "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "general contact" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <generalcontact0211@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2018 05:24:11 +0100
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL

NIGERIA PORTS AUTHORITY
LAGOS COMPLEX APAPA QUAYS

FROM: Professor Idris Abubakar
Executive Director - Engineering and Technical Services

URGENT & CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL
Dear Sir,
Although this proposal might come to you as a surprise, since it is
from someone you do not know or have seen before, but based on
recommendations, I gathered from a very reliable source here in Nigeria.
I am the member, fund coordinator of the Finance Contract
Department of Nigerian Ports Authority. The crux of this letter is that the
Finance/Contract Department of the NPA deliberately over-inflated the
contract values of various contract awarded. In the course of disbursement my office was able to track down the sum of US$15M (fifteen Million U.S Dollars) as the over invoiced sum. This money is now floating in the NPA domiciliary account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). My colleagues and I now want to quickly transfer this fund to a safe nominated foreign account for possible investment abroad.
We are not allowed as a matter of government policy to operate any
foreign account because of our status as civil/public servants. Hence the
need to solicit for you’re full banking details, to enable us transfer
this money into your account. Upon your acceptance of this proposal, we
have agreed on a sharing ratio: -
1) 30% for you as the account owner
2) 60% for I and my colleagues
3) 10% will be set aside to defray all incidental expenses both locally and internationally during the
course of this transaction.
Furthermore, we shall be coming over to your country when the money is
finally in your account and we shall be relying on your advise as
regards to investment of our share. Be informed that, this business is
genuine and 100% safe considering the high-powered government officials involved.
Send to me by email the following information: -
1) Your company name and address, bank name, address
and account number.
2) Your private email address, telephone and fax
number for effective communication.
This is to affect the Swift Transfer of this fund into
your account in less than Seven (7) working days.

Expecting your mail immediately while looking forward to a healthy
business relationship with you.

Sincerely yours,
FROM: Professor Idris Abubakar

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam