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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: "Mr. Tony Smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tosmith1@e-mail.ua>
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 15:48:51 +0530
Subject: Re: 26th March 2014

Mr. Tony Smith
INSPECTION UNIT
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
 
 
Dear friend,
 
I am Mr. Tony Smith Director Inspection Unit United Nations Inspection Agent in Hartsfield International Airport Atlanta Georgia. During our investigation, I discovered An abandoned shipment from a Diplomat from United Kingdom. The consignment was abandoned because the Content was not properly declared by the consignee as money rather it was declared as personal effect.
 
On my assumption, each of the boxes will contain more than $3 to $4M each.The details of the consignment including your name in the official document from United Nation office in London are tagged on the Metal Trunk box.
 
Provide your Phone and Fax Number Email and full address, name of nearest Airport around and other details or disregard. You can send the required details to me for onward delivery.
 
I can get everything concluded within 3-6 hours upon your acceptance and proceed to your address for delivery. But I must get assurance from you concerning my 50% before I will proceed.
I want us to transact this business and share the money, since the shippers have abandoned it and ran away. I will pay for the Non inspection fee and arrange for the boxes to be moved out of this Airport to your address, I will bring it by myself to avoid any more trouble. But I will share it 50% to you and 50% to me. But you have to assure me of my 50%.
Below are my direct telephone numbers and I wait to hear from you.
 
Mr. Tony Smith
INSPECTION OFFICER
E-mail: tosmith1@e-mail.ua

Anti-fraud resources: