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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Diplomat Mr. James Anthony." <dir.zrobert@gmail.com>
Reply-To: james.anthony@zbavitu.net
Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2011 10:05:16 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Good Day!!!




Dear Sir/Madam,
 
I'm Diplomatic Agent, Mr. James Anthony, mandated to deliver your inheritance to you in your country of residence. The funds total USD$3.500,000,00 and you were made the beneficiary of these funds by a benefactor whose details will be revealed to you after handing over the funds to you in accordance with the Agreement I signed with the benefactor when he enlisted my assistance in delivering the funds to you.
 
The airport authority demanded for the legal back up papers to prove that the funds is in no way related to drug or money laundry which i did present to them and they were very much pleased with the papers i presented but the only thing that is still keeping me here is the airport delivery Tag which is not placed on the packages ( Funds ), one of the Airport Authority as advise that we get the delivery tag so that I can exit the airport immediately and make my delivery successful.
 
I try to reason with them and they stated the delivery tag will cost us just $763 Dollars only to get the two tag placed on the package because that tag will enable me get to your house successfully without any interference. They have scanned the package and found out that the fund is 100% spendable and accepted by any bank in the whole world.
 
So the only thing still keeping me here is the airport delivery tag which is to be secured from our head office and sent over here to be placed on the consignment boxes so as to enable me proceed to meet with you. So you are hereby advised to send the $763.00USD through WESTERN UNION to the information provided to you and get back with the pick up details so i can forward it to our head office for them to pick up the money, secure the tag and direct it over here to be placed on the package so as to enable me proceed to meet with you. I hope everything is well understood.
 
Below is the information to send the $763.00USSD for the tag to be secured and sent over to me here.
 
RECEIVER NAME:………OBAGHA JOHN
COUNTRY……………BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY:…………..COTONOU
TEXT QUESTION:………..A
TEXT ANSWER:………….B
AMOUNT EXPECTED:…$763.00 USD.
SENDER NAME……..
MTCN……....
 
Please try and reach me with my International Roaming Number: +229-6631-5225 it is working here as I can not afford to spend more time here due to other delivery I have to take care of in NEW YORK. I will be waiting to hear from you today so as to enable me proceed to NEW YORK. as i have more other deleivery to make there before going back to my country.
 
 I am at Memphis International Airport, Tennessee and before I can deliver the package (FUND'S) to you, you  have to reconfirm the following information so as to avoid missing the address and ensure that I am dealing with the right person:
 
1. Full Name.................
2. Residential Address.........
3. Age..........................
4. Occupation....................
5. Direct Telephone Numbers.......
6. A Copy of Your Scanned Identification...
 
After verifying  your information with what I have on file, I shall contact you so that we can make arrangements on the exact time I will be bringing your package to your residential address. You can call me on my international roaming number +229-6631-5225 to confirm the receipt of my message.
 
 My email address: (james.anthony@zbavitu.net)
Send the requested information so that we can proceed Immediately.
Best Regard's.
Diplomat Mr. James Anthony.



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