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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "transfer into your account" (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)
  • "million united states dollars" (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)
  • "% commission" (Beware of any scheme that involves depositing checks or money orders or receiving wire transfers in your bank account and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere, for a percentage of 5-15% of the total. Such offers are *always* fraudulent and you will be liable for the entire amount when the checks, money orders or wire transfers turn out to be fraudulent. Any money already forwarded comes out of *your* pocket then. )
  • "top secret" (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)
  • "nigeria national petroleum corporation" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "contract award committee" (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: "edwin dili" <edwindili2@gmail.com>
Reply-To: edwindili@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 7 Aug 2008 14:40:46 -0700
Subject: My Letter..


From the desk of:
Edwin Dili
Nigerian National Petroluem Corporation
Head Office Annex,
Lagos.

Sir/Madam,

First, I must solicit your strictest confidence in
this transaction. This is by virtue of its nature as
being utterly confidential and top secret. You have
been recommended by a reliable source that assured me
in confidence of your ability and reliability to
prosecute a transaction involving a large sum of
money.

We are top officials of the Nigeria National Petroleum
Corporation CONTRACT AWARD COMMITTEE who are
interested in investing in your company and or your
country with funds which are presently pending in the
Central Bank Of Nigeria. For the commencement of this
business, we solicit your assistance to enable us
transfer into your account the said funds.

The source of this fund is as follows: In the month of
June 2004,my committee awarded a contract for the TURN
ARROUND MAINTAINANCE of KADUNA AND WARRI REFINERY and
supply of equipments and installation to foreign
company to the tune of {US$450.000.000.00} FOUR
HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS on
contract no NNPC/T-ARD-MT/PED/KDREF-144/2004.But
before the award of the contract we agreed on a (10%}
ten percent commission with the company which was a
deliberate over-invoicing. The company has been paid
the 1st&2nd installments of US$285M andUS$120M
remaining the 3rd installment of US$45M representing
the 10% commission which we now want to transfer into
your Account.

We have agreed to share the money thus:

1. 30% for the Account Owner (You)
2. 60% for us (The Officials)
3. 10% to be used in settling taxation and all local
and foreign expenses.

It is this 60% that we wish to invest in your care.
Please, note that this transaction is 100% safe and we
hope to conclude the transfer latest seven (7) banking
days from the date of the receipt of the following
information by Fax: the name and address of the
beneficiary {company}, your Telephone and Fax No. for
easy communication. Banker's name and address, Account
number, Bank's Phone, Fax and Telex/Swift Code No.

The above information will enable us write letters of
claim and job description respectively. This way we
will use your company's name to apply for payment as
one of the SUB-CONTRACTORS. We are looking forward to
doing this business with you and solicit your
confidentiality in this transaction. Please
acknowledge the receipt of this letter using my
email address. I will bring you into complete picture of this pending
project when I hear from you.

Yours faithfully,

Mr.Edwin Dili

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam