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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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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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.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "might come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "nigeria national petroleum corporation" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348055801437 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • abubakarlawal@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Abubakar Lawal Yaradua" <abubakarlawal@sify.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2008 23:55:30 +0300
Subject: From Abubakar Hello My Good Friend


From the desk of: Alhaji Abubakar L. Y.
Email: abubakarlawal@sify.com

RE: PARTNERSHIP BUSINESS INVESTMENT
Attn: My Friend,
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.

I am the director, fund coordinator of the Finance Contract Department of
the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation. The crux of this letter is that
the finance/contract department of the NNPC deliberately over inflated the
contract values of the various contract awarded.

In the course of disbursement, my office was able to track down the sum of
US$23.5m as the over invoiced sum. This money is now floating in the NNPC
domiciliary account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). I and my
colleagues 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 needs to
solicit for your full banking details, to enable us transfer this money into
your account.

Upon your acceptance of this proposal, we have also agreed on a sharing
ration:
1. 25% for you as the account owner
2. 65% for I and my colleagues
3. 10% will be set aside to defray all incidental expenses both locally and
international 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 advice 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 by Tel/Fax or Email the following information:
1. Your company name, address, bank name, address and account number
2. Your telephone and fax number for effective communication
This is to effect the swift transfer of this fund into your account in less
than seven (7) working days.

Contact me strictly on Telephone number: 234 805 580 1437 or email:
abubakarlawal@sify.com Expecting your call immediately while looking forward
to a healthy business relationship with you.

Yours Faithfully,

Engr. Abubakar L. Y.
[Group Managing Director (GMD) ].

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam