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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: "US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <russell_1@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2020 15:33:05 +0100
Subject: Re: Urrgent Notice From U.S Customs and Border Protection. ARE YOU DEAD OR ALIVE?

From the desk of Mr. Russell Morgan
U.S Customs and Border Protection
14700 Teminal Blvd #120,
Clearwater, FL 33762, United States
Attn:Beneficiary
My name is Mr. Russell Morgan from Saint Petersburg Florida. I am writing to let you Know that we received several consignment boxes and packages containing ATM cards/Metal Box and some other items signed  from TNT Courier, Fedex  Courier which is yet delivered to Your Address.
Among the consignment boxes / packages that are still in our custody, your  name was included on them. Others are from our New Jersey Customs Office branch,several banks in Europe and parts of Asia had all been sent to our office here in our Saint Petersburg office branch for our office to make clarification that you received your two consignment boxes.
Two days ago (Mrs. Susan Brown) sent to us a message stating that she was a family member of yours and she also said that you are no more alive and she made us to understand that you handed over your belonging to her when you were still alive. so, she is demanding from our office the two consignment boxes to be released to her as she is trying to stand as your next of kin but we are still waiting to see if you will respond to this email within three days as (HOME LAND SECURITY REVENUE)(FBI) AND UNITED NATIONS) has warned us to be very careful in our dealings with you and that was the reason we ignored the message from Mrs. Susan Brown but still awaiting to see if  you will respond to this alert message for us to be sure that you are still alive before we tell you the next line of action and the best way you can received
your consignment boxes  which include ATM CARD  PARCEL without any more delay on it. Attached is my official ID Together with Your Discovered ATM  CARD PARCEL
Respond to this message as soon as possible by email  or Call me on  Tel:+191-741-04990. Also,you can send me Text on this same Phone Number.
Waiting for your quick response.
Regards,
Mr. Russell Morgan
Customs Department Director
SAINT Petersburg Florida
Tel:+191-741-04990

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