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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: SMITH SCOTT <10@cls551.onmicrosoft.com>
Reply-To: <scottsmith@foxmail.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 12:00:36 +0530
Subject: From Assistant Director Inspection Unit/United Nations

I am Mr S. Smith the Assistant Director Inspection Unit/United Nations in
Hartsfield Atlanta Intl Airport Georgia USA.

During my recent withheld package check at the Airport Storage Vault, I
discovered an abandoned shipment from a Diplomat and when scanned it revealed an
undisclosed sum of money in a metal trunk box. The boxes was abandoned because
the Contents of the boxes was not declared by the consignee as " MONEY " rather
it was declared as personal effect to avoid interogation and also the inability
of the diplomat to pay for the Non Inspection Charges of 3,700USD. On my
assumption, the box will contain about 2.5 Million to 3 Million US Dollars.

Please note that this consignment is supposed to have been returned to the US
Treasury Department as unclaimed delivery due to the delays in concluding the
clearance so as a result of this, I will not be able to receive your details on
my official email account. So in order words to enable me cross check your
details, I will advise you send the required details to my private email address
which is ( scott.smith109@aol.com ) for quick processing and response. To
enable me confirm if you are the actual recipient of this boxes I will advise
you provide your current Phone Number and Full Address, to enable me cross check
if it corresponds with the address on the official documents including the name
of nearest Airport around your city. I can get everything concluded within 3-6
hours upon your acceptance and proceed to your address for delivery.

Be informed that the reason I have taken it upon myself to contact you
personally about this Boxes is because I want us to transact this business and
share the money 70% for you and 30% for me since the consignment still pending,
I will go ahead and pay for the Non Inspection Fee of $3,700 dollars and arrange
for the box to be delivered to your doorstep Or I can bring it by myself to
avoid any more trouble. Let me have your response.

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