419 scam: "YOUR CONTRACT FUND"<etimjohnso@apoil.com> YOUR CONTRACT FUND

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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:

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:
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- etimjohn@engineer.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "YOUR CONTRACT FUND" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <etimjohnson@engineer.com>
Date: Sat, 2 Mar 2013 13:38:28 -0500
Subject: YOUR CONTRACT FUND

From: Engineer; Etim johnson
Department of mineral & energy, Nigeria
Email: etimjohn@engineer.com

Aten: Director /c.e.o

Sir/Madam,

I am Engineer Etim Johnson i know this will come to you as a surprise as we do not know
each other, but after going through your profile then i decided to contact you.However,i
am making this contact with you based on the transfer of a legitimate contract payment
of us$1.5m. I work with the department of mineral & energy, Nigeria... i need
you to recieve this contract payment on my behalf and your share as compesation in the
amount of us$1.5m will be 30%,I and my partners receive 60% while 10% for taxes
and miscellaneous expenses.

If you are willing to work me in this transaction, Kindly provide your full name,
occupation/age/with direct telephone, /fax number so that i can call to give u more
comprehensive details on what we are to do immediatly. Please do email me back as you
recieve this email. note that time is of great essence in this transaction.

Await your response.

Sincerely yours,
engineer etim johnson

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam