419 scam: "Diplomat Johnson Smith"<postmaster@localhost.com> Attn: Personal Info From Hartsfield GA(Unclaimed Item)

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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:

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:
- "million dollars" (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)
- "a diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Diplomat Johnson Smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <demerio.small@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 18:18:19 -0400
Subject: Attn: Personal Info From Hartsfield GA(Unclaimed Item)

I am Johnson Smith, head of Baggage Storage Unit North Air Cargo Complex at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport Atlanta Georgia. I have contacted you concerning an abandoned diplomatic baggage which I discovered in our storage house and the x-ray scan report box revealed some US dollar bill in it which could be approximately Three million dollars. The baggage was abandoned by a diplomat from Iraq who was on transit to your city due to his inability to pay the diplomatic baggage non-inspection fee of three thousand and three hundred dollars and the official paper of the baggage indicates your name, your address and your email address.

For me to confirm you as the recipient, you are to email me your full names, your full address, your telephone number and the nearest airport close to you to cross-check if it corresponds with the details on the official document. All communication must be held extremely confidential because I have taken it upon myself to contact you personally about this abandoned baggage so that we can transact it as a deal since it has not yet been returned to the United States Treasury Department as unclaimed delivery. Once I confirm you as the recipient,I will pay the non-inspection fee of three thousand and three hundred dollars and arrange for the baggage to be delivered to your door-step or I can bring it myself to ensure a successful delivery but you have to assure and keep to my instruction and work with me, I can get everything concluded within 3days upon your acceptance and proceed to your address for delivery.

I wait to hear from you immediately.

Regards,
Diplomat Johnson Smith.

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam