419 scam: "Dr. Usman Ahmed" <nnpcofficeline@rediffmail.com> DID YOU AUTHORIZED MRS. ELIZABETH SMITH TO RECEIVED FUND ON YOUR BEHALF?.

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "into your nominated bank 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)
- "to your nominated bank 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)
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
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.
- +2348082263242 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Usman Ahmed" <nnpcofficeline@rediffmail.com>
Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2013 16:19:52 +0800
Subject: DID YOU AUTHORIZED MRS. ELIZABETH SMITH TO RECEIVED FUND ON YOUR BEHALF?.

FROM THE OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF FINANCE (NNPC)
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT
TINUBU SQUARE, VICTORIA ISLAND,
LAGOS-NIGERIA.
NNPC CONTRACT #: MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009,
Swift Code: BPH KPL PK,
Our Ref:NNPC/IRD/NNX/21/08
Mobile Phone Number +234-8082263242

ATTN: GUZMAN,

WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE DELAY OF YOUR PAYMENT AND ALL THE INCONVENIENCES WE MIGHT
HAVE PUT YOU THROUGH, WHILE WE WERE HAVING SOME MINOR PROBLEMS WITH OUR
PAYMENT SYSTEM WHICH IN ALL CASE NOT MEETING UP WITH FOREIGN PAYMENTS, WE
APOLOGIZE ONCE AGAIN.

FROM THE RECORDS OF OUTSTANDING CONTRACTORS DUE FOR PAYMENT WITH THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA, YOUR NAME AND WAS DISCOVERED AS NEXT ON THE LIST OF THE
(13) OUTSTANDING CONTRACTORS WHO HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED THEIR PAYMENTS
DURING THE (8) YEARS TENURE OF THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION IN OFFICE PLEASE
BEAR WITH US FOR MAKING THE INITIAL CONTACT THROUGH EMAIL.
MEANWHILE, A WOMAN CAME TO MY OFFICE A FEW DAYS AGO WITH A LETTER, CLAIMING TO
BE YOUR TRUE REPRESENTATIVE. HERE IS HER INFORMATION BELOW:
NAME ELIZABETH SMITH

BANK NAME: CITIBANK, ARIZONA, USA.

ACCOUNT NUMBER: 6503809008.

PLEASE, DO RECONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE, AS A MATTER OF URGENCY IF THIS WOMAN IS
FROM YOU SO THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING
INTO THE WRONG ACCOUNT NAME IF THIS WOMAN IS NOT YOUR REP, YOU ARE REQUESTED
TO FILL AND SEND THIS INFORMATION FOR VERIFICATION PURPOSES SO THAT YOUR FUND
VALUED ($45.5 MILLION) US DOLLARS WILL BE REMITTED INTO YOUR NOMINATED BANK
ACCOUNT.

KINDLY RE-CONFIRM TO ME THE FOLLOWINGS:

YOUR FULL NAME:
YOUR BANK NAME:
YOUR BANK ADDRESS:
ACCOUNT HOLDERS NAME:
ACCOUNT HOLDER ADDRESS:
ACCOUNT HOLDER TEL:
ROUTING NUMBER:
DATE OF BIRTH:
SSN:
PHONE, FAX AND MOBILE:
COMPANY NAME, POSITION AND ADDRESS:
PROFESSION, AGE AND MARITAL STATUS:
WORKING ID/INT'L PASSPORT:

AS SOON AS THIS INFORMATION IS RECEIVED, YOUR PAYMENT WILL BE MADE TO YOU IN A
CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT OR WIRED TO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT DIRECTLY FROM A
COMMERCIAL BANK HERE IN NIGERIA. THIS IS THE 1st QUARTER PAYMENT OF THE YEAR.
HOWEVER; WE SHALL PROCEED TO ISSUE ALL PAYMENTS DETAILS TO THE SAID
MRS.ELIZABETH SMITH, IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU WITHIN THE NEXT THREE WORKING
DAYS FROM
TODAY.

WE ARE SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THE DELAY IN TRANSFERRING OF YOUR FUND MUST
HAVE CAUSED YOU.

BEST REGARDS.

DR. USMAN AHMED
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE (NNPC).

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam