419 scam: "Mr. David Oluwafemi" <davidluwafemi@yahoo.com.hk> REQUEST FOR URGENT BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "huge sum of money" (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)
- "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)
- "hundred thousand 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "contract review panel" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- +2348081986139 (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.
- doluwafemi92@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. David Oluwafemi" <davidluwafemi@yahoo.com.hk>
Reply-To: <doluwafemi92@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Mon, 9 Jul 2012 13:43:04 -0400
Subject: REQUEST FOR URGENT BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP - STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL. [Scanned]

REQUEST FOR URGENT BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP - STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.

I am Mr. David Oluwafemi a senior expatriate official of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and I member of a Three-man tender board in charge of Contracts Awards and payment Approvals. I came to know of you in my search for a reliable and reputable person to handle a very confidential business transaction which involves the transfer of a huge sum of money to a foreign account requiring maximum confidence. I and my colleagues are officials of the Federal Government of Nigeria Contract Review Panel of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. Our duties include Evaluation, Vetting and Approval for payment of contract jobs done for the NNPC, etc.

In order to commence this business, we solicit for your assistance to enable us transfer into your account the said funds. The source of these funds is as follows: During the last military regime here in Nigeria, this committee awarded a contract of US$140,500,000.00 (One Hundred and Fourty Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) to five foreign Construction firms on behalf of the Petroleum Ministry for the Supply, Construction and Installation of Oil Pipeline from Warri to Port Harcourt.

During this process my colleagues and I decided amongst ourselves to deliberately Over-Inflate the total contract sum USD$196,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Ninety Six Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) with the main intention of sharing the remaining sum of US$56,000, 000.00 (Fifty Six Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) amongst ourselves.

The Federal Government of Nigeria/NNPC Board has now approved the sum of US$196,500,000.00 (One Hundred and Ninety Six Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) for payment to the Contractors.

Now that the Federal Government has approved payment to the Contractors, I am soliciting your assistance to receive my own share of the Over Inflated Sum which is US$14,000,000.00(Fourteen Million United States Dollars) after sharing with my colleagues in office since it’s only a foreigner or foreign firm that can receive these funds on my behalf. I cannot keep this Money or place it in a Bank myself by virtue of my positions as civil servants and members of this panel, I cannot do this by myself as I am prohibited by the `Code of Conduct Bureau´ (Civil Service Laws) from opening / operating foreign accounts in our names, making it impossible for me to acquire the such large sum in my name.

I am willing to offer you 45% of the total amount of US$14,000,000.00 (Fourteen Million United States Dollars), while 50% will be for me and the remaining 5% will be used in offsetting all Charges/Fees incurred (both local and foreign) in the cause of this transfer. Needless to say, that the trust I reposed on you is enormous. In return I demand your complete honesty and trust.

Please, note that this transaction is 100% legal and risk free and we hope to conclude the business in Seven (7) working days from the date of receipt of the necessary information and requirement from you. I will bring you into the complete picture of the transaction when I have heard from you.

Your urgent response will be highly appreciated.

Yours sincerely,

Mr. David Oluwafemi
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
Email: doluwafemi92@yahoo.com.hk
Telephone: +2348081986139

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam