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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: "GARBA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <usmandanfulanibello@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2018 18:44:11 +0200
Subject: FROM ENGR. IDRIS Ibn GARBA

DEAR SIR,
 
        CONFIDENTIAL REQUEST TO RECEIVE $237 MILLION DOLLARS INTO YOUR BANK
ACCOUNT.
 
I AM ENGR.DR.IDRIS Ibn GARBA.I AM THE DIRECTOR OF CONTRACTS AWARDING AND
PROCUREMENT COMMITTEE IN THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION,NNPC.
 
MY COLLEAGUES AND I HAVE A TOTAL SUM OF $237 MILLION UNITED STATES
DOLLARS,A PRODUCT OF DELIBERATE OVER INVOICING IN A CONTRACT WE AWARDED TO
A FOREIGN ENGINEERING OIL SERVICES COMPANY.THE CONTRACT HAVING BE PROPERLY
EXECUTED AND COMMISSIONED.WE ARE NOW LOOKING FOR AN HONEST AND CAPABLE
INDIVIDUAL/FOREIGN COMPANY WHOM WE WILL FRONT AS A SUB-CONTRACTOR,IN ORDER
TO PROCESS AND RELEASE THE ABOVE SUM,AND SHARE FOR OUR MUTUAL BENEFITS.
 
THERE IS NO RISK INVOLVED IN THIS TRANSACTION,BECAUSE ALL MACHINERY ARE IN
PLACE FOR A SUCCESSFUL AND HITCH FREE EXERCISE.FOR FURTHER
CLARIFICATIONS,DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY.
THANKS.
 
ENGR.IDRIS Ibn GARBA.

Anti-fraud resources: