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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: "diplomat Eric Colle" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <diplomaterc1@live.com>
Date: Wed, 29 Jun 2005 06:37:08 +0100
Subject: Diplomat Eric Colle Am in John F. Kennedy International Airport now call me +229-972-245-75.

Attn: Beneficiary,


I’m diplomat Eric Colle; I have been trying to reach you on your telephone about an hour now just to inform you about my successful arrival in John F. Kennedy International Airport with your two boxes of consignment worth $1.2 Million U.S Dollars which I have been instructed by ECOWAS COURIER DELIVERY COMPANY to be delivered to you.


The Airport authority demanded for all the legal back up papers to prove to them that the fund is no way related with drug nor fraud money, I have presented the papers I handed to them and they are very much pleased with the paper’s I presented but the only thing that is still keeping me here is the airport delivery Tag which is not placed on the boxes, one of the Airport Authority has 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 $55 Dollars only to get the two tag placed on the boxes as that tag will enable me get to your house successfully without any interference, they scanned the boxes and found out that the fund is 100 % spend able and accepted by any bank in the whole world.

Please try and reach me with my international roaming number +229 9722475 as I can not afford to spend more time here due to other delivery I have to take care of in Bangkok, etc. I have my ID CARD as I can accompany you to your bank were you will deposit the fund successfully with these papers. I have one more vital paper with me but I can only present you the hard copy when I reach your house as that it’s the diplomatic rules, such as authorization to deliver.

You can direct the tag fee to our Head Office as they will get it here for you and they are entitled to receive and make any payment to foreign countries authority.
GET BACK TO ME IN MY EMAIL NOW; diplomaterc1@live.com

Sender Name:....................
Sender Country:.................
Receiver Name: Ndidi Raphael Onwuanaku.
Receiver Country: Cotonou Benin-Republic.
Amount: $55 US Dollars
Text Question: which Year
Text Answer: 2011
MTCN:...........................


Regards,
Diplomat Eric.

Anti-fraud resources: