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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Smith David" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <davidsmiths1902@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2012 12:42:40 -0700
Subject: GOOD NEWS

 
 
CONFIDENTIAL:
 
                                    REQUEST FOR BUSINESS TRANSACTION
DEAR Sir
 
 
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WRITE AND INFORM YOU OF A TRANSACTION INVOLVING
THE TRANSFERENCE OF ($25.750M MILLION U.S. DOLLARS ONLY  INTO A
FOREIGN ACCOUNT F
OR SAFE KEEPING PENDING MY ARRIVAL WITH MY COLLEAGUES FOR THE SHARING
WITH WHOSOEVER OWNS THE ACCOUNT INTO WHICH THE AMOUNT IS REMITTED.
 
I AM THE FINANCIAL DIRECTOR WITH THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM
CORPORATION(NNPC) IN LAGOS AND THIS ORIGINATED FROM OVER-INVOICED
CONTRACTS EXECUTED FOR MY CORPORATION SOMETIMES AGO OF WHICH I AM ONE
OF THE SIGNATORIES WHO SIGNED ON THE PROJECT TO THE CONTRACTORS. ON
COMPLETION AND INSPECTION OF THIS CONTRACT, THE PAYMENT VOUCHERS HAD
BEEN APPROVED AND THE MONEY MADE AVAILABLE FOR THE PAYMENT TO THE
CONTRACTOR.
BUT AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE ARE TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND WE ARE
NOT LIABLE TO COME OUT OPENLY TO CLAIM THIS ABOVE MONEY. THIS IS WHY
WE ARE LOOKING FOR A COMPETENT AND HONEST COMPANY OR INDIVIDUAL ABROAD
WHOSE DOCUMENTS WOULD BE TENDERED BY US HERE IN LAGOS AS ONE OF THE
CONTRACTORS  THAT EXECUTED THE PROJECT.
 
THESE ARE THE TWO MAJOR CONTRACTS AWARDED TO THE FOREIGN CONSTRUCTION
FIRMS. THE CONTRACTS WERE TURN AROUND MAINTENANCE JOBS ON AJAOKUTA
STEEL MANUFACTURING COMPLEX (THE NATION’S STEEL PRODUCTION FIRM)
AWARDED TO MESSRS DUMEZ CONTRUCTION COMPANY, GERMANY AND THE KADUNA
REFINERY PETROCHEMICAL COMPANY AWARDED TO CHIYODA CONSTRUCTION
COMPANY,JAPAN. SO AFTER DUE CONSULTATIONS, YOU WERE STRONGLY AND
RELIABLY RECOMMENDED TO US, BY A GOOD FRIEND THAT WORKS WITH THE
INTERNET SOCIAL ORGANISACTION.
 
ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NEVER MET OR ENTERED INTO ANY KIND OF TRANSACTIONS
WITH YOU BEFORE AS TO KNOW YOU BUT BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATION, I
PERSONALLY WANT TO BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE HONEST ENOUGH. IT IS ON THIS
NOTE THAT WE CONSIDER IT PROPER TO WRITE YOU ASKING FOR YOUR CONSENT
AND SUPPORT TO TRANSFER THIS INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. YOU SHOULD NOT FEAR
ANY RISK BECAUSE WE HAVE CONCLUDED EVERY ARRANGEMENT TO SAFEGUARD THIS
TRANSACTION BUT AT THE SAME TIME. WE WOULD WANT YOU TO MAINTAIN HIGH
LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE AND SECRECY. I WANT YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE AND
YOUR FAX NUMBER.
 
MEANWHILE, THIS IS THE BREAKDOWN OF THE MODALITY
(1). 30% OF THE MONEY IS FOR YOU FOR USING YOUR ACCOUNT
(2). 65% OF IT IS FOR US THE ORIGINATOR.
(3). 5% WILL BE USED TO SETTLE ALL TRANSFERENCE CHARGES BY BOTH PARTIES.
THEREFORE, IF YOU WILL WISH TO ASSIST US, HASTEN UP AND SEND THE
FOLLOWING  IMMEDIATELY.
 
(1)YOUR PRIVATE TEL AND FAX NUMBER FOR EASY COMMUNICATION.
(2). YOUR BANK PARTICULARS, ADDRESS AND ACCOUNT NUMBER,
TELEPHONE,TELEX AND FAX NUMBERS FOR QUICK COMMUNICATION.
AS SOON AS THE  ABOVE REQUIREMENTS IS SEND TO ME I WILL SECURE APROVAL
ON YOUR NAME AND THE NECESSARY DOCUMENT WILL ALSO BE SECURED TO BACK
YOU UP AS THE ORIGINAL BENEFICIARY  FOR EASY PAYMENT.
 
UPON THE RESPONSE OF THIS MAIL MORE DETAILS OF THIS TRANSACTION WILL
BE UPDATE TO YOU.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
 
ENGR.Smith David
 
+234-8185036782
+234-8169850099

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