419 scam: "Major General James Lamb"<majorgeneral

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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "diplomatic immunity"
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "diplomatic agent" ("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.
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.
- majorgeneral_jameslamb@yahoo.co.jp (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Major General James Lamb" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <majorgeneral_jameslamb@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 21:59:38 +0100
Subject: RE

Sir,

I am Major General James Lamb [Rtd]the special Adviser
to the British prime minister on financial on Lottery/
inheritance matters,am delighted to inform you that the
lottery/inheritance panel,which just concluded it?s
seating in London just released your name among beneficiary
to benefit rom the Diplomatic Immunity Payment.This Panel
was primarily delegated to investigate manipulated lottery/
inheritance payment as the effect has eaten deep into the
economy of our dear country.

However,I wish to bring to your notice that your lottery/
inheritance profile is still reflecting in our central
computer as unpaid lottery/inheritance while auditing was
going on. Your lottery/inheritance file was forwarded to
my office by the auditors as unclaimed fund,I wish to
use this medium to inform you that for the time being,
British government have stopped further payment through
bank to bank transfer due to lottery/inheritance beneficiary
numerous petitions to United Nations against HSBC BANK on
wrong payment and diversion of lottery/inheritance funds
to different account.

In this regards I am going to send your lottery/inheritance
part payment of USD$15.5Million to you through diplomatic
agent and I have secured every needed documents to cover
the money. Note: The money is coming on 2 security proof
boxe. The boxe are sealed with synthetic nylon seal and
padded with machine. This fund was brought to us from UK
lottery agency,it was me and for our Local AFEM market.But
since the money was not used,I will use my position as the
National Security Adviser to the British prime minister
to send this fund to you.

Please you don't have to worry for any thing, as the transaction
is 100% risk free. The boxes are coming with a Diplomatic
agent who will accompany the boxes to your house address.
All you need to do now is to send to me your full house
address and your identity such as,international passport or
drivers license including your private contact phone numbers,
the Diplomatic agent will travel with it. He will call you
immediately he arrives your country's airport, I hope you
understand me?.

Note:diplomat agent does not know the original contents of
the boxes. What l declared to them as the contents is alpha
lima Photographic Film Materials.I did not declare money to
them please. If they call you and ask you the contents please
tell them the same thing. Please email me today,and I will
give you more information about this transaction,I have gone
with the arrangement.I will secure a Diplomatic immunity
ID card that will be tagged on the boxes to make it stand
as a diplomatic consignment.

This ID card will make it pass every custom checkpoint all
over the world without hitch, Confirm the receipt of this
message and send the requirements to me immediately you
receive this message.Please i need urgent reply because
the boxes are schedule to live as soon as we hear from you
or send me an Email: majorgeneral_jameslamb@yahoo.co.jp

Best Regards,

Major General James Lamb [Rtd)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam