419 scam: "Engr. Augustine Oniwon"<fundinvestigator4@att.net> From Engr. Augustine O. Oniwon.

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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:
- "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)
- "abuja" (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.
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.
- +2347090879427 (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.
- grp.director@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Engr. Augustine Oniwon" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <grp.director@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:40:19 +0100
Subject: From Engr. Augustine O. Oniwon.

NNPC Towers, Central Business District,
Herbert Macaulay Way,
P.M.B. 190, Garki, Abuja.
Date: 2011

Attention Sir,

I am the Group Director to Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC),
and a member of five men committee appointed by the present democratic
Government, Federal Republic of Nigeria. We were empowered to verify and
investigate contractual payments of the ministry made during the past
Military dictatorship in Nigeria.

During the course of this investigation we discovered ($50M) Fifty Million United
States Dollars floating in a suspense account of the ministry. Subsequently,
our investigation revealed that this amount originated from over inflated
contract whose beneficiary has been dully paid for the contract executed in
accordance with the terms of the contract agreement. In the full exercise we
discovered more other seventy-two similar cases but were recovered to the
government confer few months after our investigation.

Consequently to our resolution to transfer this sum ($50M) Fifty Million United
States Dollars into a foreign account to enable us invest the money,I
therefore seek for a trustworthy individual or company whose bank account
will retain this money. We resolved that you should own (30%) which is
Fifteen Million United States Dollars for your service and assistance while
Five Million United States Dollars shall be used for taxable charges. The
remaining amount shall be for our investment in you Country which is going
to be under your care. Having accepted our offer you should forward your
safe bank account particulars, your private telephone and fax numbers for
immediate commencement of this transfer into your account.

Best Regards.

Mr. Augustine O. Oniwon
Group Director
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)
Private E-mail: grp.director@gmail.com
Tel: +234-709-087-9427

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam