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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Fraud email example:

From: wmakella@spymac.com
Date: Fri, 03 Jun 2005 11:08:07 -0800
Subject: Ministry of Petroleum Resources

Wilson Makella
Exploration Department
Ministry of Petroleum Resources
Abuja, Nigeria.
Telephone: 234 80 2556 5441

Dear sir,

It is indeed my pleasure to write you this letter, which I believe will be a surprise to you as we have never met before, and I am deeply sorry if I have in any manner disturbed your privacy. I actually got your e-mail address while searching the internet for a foreigner to handle this transaction..

I am Mr Wilson Makella of the Exploration Department in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, and a close associate of the immediate past Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Gaius Obaseki.

Mr Obaseki has mandated me to transfer the sum of US$88 millions recovered from over-invoiced contracts involved in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) into private offshore accounts. A total sum of US$73, 700, 000.00 has been transferred before the untimely removal of Mr Obaseki as the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, by this present government, leaving the balance of US$14, 300, 000.00.

I have made proper arrangement/documentation to transfer the balance which is retained in a suspense account of the NNPC with the Central Bank of Nigeria. We are soliciting that you help us to receive the fund in trust. We cannot complete this transaction without the participation of a foreign partner who would provide an offshore account where the funds could be lodged, as the Federal Legislature here in my country Nigeria does not permit government workers to operate offshore accounts.

The remittance of the funds requires little documentation that would be completed as soon as you provide us with a secured bank account that you have absolute control over, where you may wish to receive the money. There is no risk involved on your part in this transaction since the former Group Managing Director of NNPC and I have covered this transaction with adequate contract and external credit documents.

What we require from you, are:

(i) Acceptance of this offer

(ii) Your company name/address, telephone/fax numbers and a bank account where the funds would be lodged.

(iii) Convincing Honesty, Trustworthiness and Willingness to abide by the requirements of this proposal paramount of which is CONFIDENTIALITY
We have agreed that you will retain 20% of the entire US$14, 300,000.00 for your effort in this transaction, 80% for us partners here in Nigeria.

Please reply urgently via email or telephone, as we expect that the transaction will not take more than seven working days. And please note that this transaction must be top secret. However, if you are not in any position to assist us, please do not respond to this mail and we apologize for taking your time

Best regards.

Wilson Makella

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam