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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "21-03-2017" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info.shell.hrc@engineer.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2017 19:59:31 +0700
Subject: My Subject,

March 21 2017.
RE: Privileged and Confidential:
 
 
Here I brought a potential Business Proposal at your door step for consideration.
 
 
My name is Colin McClelland, Chief Auditor/Procurement Officer as well as the chairman of the contract award committee of the Shell and BP South African Petroleum Refineries (Pty) Ltd. My colleagues and I have a total sum of USD68.5Million we want to move out of the country. This sum was gotten from over inflated contract and procurement of oil rig, system optimization and installation for of oil pipeline for the agency. This contract was awarded in 2015 to an expatriate company with a special understanding and arrangement.
 
 
The contract has been executed and commissioned while the company has been paid their full contract sum remaining the inflated cost which is now fully secured and safe. We cannot be able to claim this fund by ourselves owing to our positions in the government as our civil service rules forbids us from owing or operating domiciliary account. We now want a foreign business partner that can claim and invest this fund for us in a profitable venture for our collective benefit.
 
 
I am inviting you for a business deal where this money can be transfer to a foreign account shared between us in the ratio of 60% for me, 40% for you, this transaction is 100% risk free, as no-risk involved and that is if you agree to my business proposal. Further details of the transaction will be forwarded to you as soon as I receive your reply mail. Kindly furnish me with the following details. Email: info.firstbank.sa@zoho.com
 
 
a) Your Full Name
b) Your contact address
c) Your Mobile Telephone and Fax
d) Your Occupation and Age
e) A scan copy of any of your Proof of Identification
 
 
Thanks
 
 
Colin McKenzie McClelland
Director of Sapia

Anti-fraud resources: