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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: "Desmond" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <Gregdesmond@msn.com>
Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:36:31 +0800
Subject: IN REGARDS TO MY PREVIOUS MAIL TO YOU

Dear Beneficiary
 
I will like to inform you now that the Federal Government of Nigeria has finally directed various banks/institutions and other relevant government agencies here in Nigeria to release all ligering outstanding contract or inheritance debts payments immediately to their respective beneficiaries through diplomatic delivery service and return all delivery records to the appropriates quarters for records and file.However i wish to express my profond joy attached to this development,since it gives me the honor to explain more on the approved delivery statutes of this fund  through George Bush international airport in Houston.
 
First and foremost,the bank here will be responsible for the freight courier cost and also provide the air ticket for the red cross agent that will be assigned to deliver the  fund to you through the stated above airport.In addition, the paying bank here will take care of the hotel expenses of the assigned delivery red cross agent upon his arrival in the usa
till the consignment fund is cleared and released to you .
 
Basically you are urgently required to provide me with the following information. your current mailing address where the consignment will be delivered, ur direct contact telephone numbers and a copy of your I.D card, this id card can be either your drivers liecence,work id or international passport.
 
Based on this above facts and figures, you should maker sure that you are giving me your current/direct working telephone numbers to enable the diplomat to contacts you on arrival since he will not have access to internet on his arrival.
 
I sincerely awaits your final and genuine confirmation to enable me to finalise the final depature arrangement of the delivery red cross agent .
Thank you
Greg Desmond

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