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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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.

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "the consignment" (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)
  • "consignment " (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)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned 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.
  • usman1shamsudeen@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Hon. Usman Shamsudeen" <honmansur1muhtar@gmail.com>
Reply-To: usman1shamsudeen@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 01:59:09 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Greetings to you !



Greetings to you !
 
This is to inform you that arrangements have been concluded as regards to the shipment of your consignment of funds to your country. I choose to conclude it and make sure it is off already before contacting you. I found out that this consignment has been lying here because of non-payment of shipment fees. This is why I decided to use my connections as the Shipment officer in charge of the National Security warehouse. (This is where all the abandoned consignments in Nigeria are kept at the orders of the Government of Nigeria).
 
The consignment will live Lagos Nigeria this night en-route your country via United Arab Emirate/ Spain. It is a metal box, silver in color with a weight of about 28kg, the box is declared as containing diplomatic /inheritance documents only.
 
 Call me immediately so that I can give you the phone and fax numbers of the courier company and the delivery diplomat so that you confirm when the consignment will arrive.Your are require to send us your information as listed bellow.
 
1.YOUR FULL NAME
2.YOUR SAFEST DELIVERY ADDRESS
3.PHONE AND FAX NUMBER,
4.A COPY OF YOUR INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT
5.YOUR OCCUPATION
 
I choose to do this for you because I studied your file and discovered that you have paid a lot of money before abandoning this consignment and I believe you will compensated me well when you receive the consignment.
 
Note: I know the content of the Box because I could see the amount you are being owned by the Federal Government. This is why I decided to get involved. You must also know that this arrangement do not concern all the people you were dealing with in Nigeria before today as this consignment/Payment has been surrendered to the Government. Hence my involvement.
 
Waiting for your urgent response.
 
Thanks
Hon. Usman Shamsudeen
Private eMail: usman1shamsudeen@hotmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam