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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: frankethanco.ltd@gmail.com
Date: 20 Mar 2016 22:41:15 -0700
Subject: REPLY WITH URGENCY

Attention: Mr/madam

I am contacting you regarding a special cargo that has been
abandoned here at our warehouse for over a period of 2 years

and when scanned, it revealed an undisclosed sum of money in it.
>From my findings, the cargo originated from Europe and the

content was not declared as money by the consignor in order to
avoid diversion by the shipping agent, and also failure to

pay the special cargo non-inspection fee of US$3,700. I strongly
believe the box will contain about US$2.5 million or more.

In my private search for a reliable person, my proposal now is to
present you as the recipient of the cargo since the

shipper has abandoned it which is a possibility due to the fact
it has been abandoned for a period whereby a new

beneficiary can be presented to the clearance department for
claim and also my position at this shipping service. I will

pay for the fee and arrange for the cargo to be delivered to your
address. Alternatively, I can personally bring it myself

and then we share the total money in the box equally.

Regards,

Mr.frank ethan
Asst. Operations Manager
Zim American Integrated Shipping Services Co. LLC.
Chicago (IL) Agents: 9950 W.Lawrence Avenue,
Suite 215 Schiller Park, IL 60176

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