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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: "Willem Naude" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <w.naude@e-mail.ua>
Date: Thu, 16 Jan 2014 06:49:04 +0100
Subject: Re

Sir/Ma,

I am the Assistant Director, Inspection Unit in Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA),Nigeria.During my recent withheld package routine 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 the Metal Trunk Box weighing approximately 75kg.The consignment was abandoned because the Contents of the consignment was not properly declared by the consignee as "MONEY" rather it was declared as personal effect to avoid interrogation and also the inability of the diplomat to pay for the Nigeria Non Inspection charges.The box contain Three Million Seven hundred dollars only($3,700,000.00),the consignment is still left in our Storage House here at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Airport,Nigeria till date.The details of the consignment including your EMAIL ADDRESS,NAME and an ENVELOP contains PAPERWORK tagged on the Metal Trunk boxes.

However, I have confirmed that you are the actual recipient of this consignment as the assistant director of the Inspection Unit, I will advise you on how to claim it.Reconfirm your personal details also to avoid mistake:

FULL NAME
DELIVERY ADDRESS
PHONE/MOBILE PHONE NUMBER
NEAREST AIRPORT TO YOUR HOUSE/OFFICE

Please note that this consignment is supposed to have been returned to the Nigeria Treasury Department as unclaimed delivery due to the delays in concluding the clearance processes 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 for quick processing and response.Once I receive your acknowledgement, I can get everything concluded within 24-48 hours pf receiving your response.

Finally, be informed that the reason I have taken it upon myself to contact you personally about this abandoned consignment is because I want to assist you to get your consignment release knowing fully well that you have spent alot of money in the past without success. I will try to pay for the Nigeria Non Inspection Fee on your behalf and arrange for the box to be delivered to your doorstep after all arrangements have been perfected.

I am on inspection just email me and make sure you include your mobile number so that I can give you a call. Reply for further information in details.

I await to hear from you urgently if you are still alive.

Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Willem Naude
Assistant Director, Inspection Unit
Murtala Muhammed Int'l Airport (MMIA)

Withheld Parcel

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