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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: "Mr.stephan@likouala.com X" <xx@yy>
Reply-To: scottssm03@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 04 Mar 2023 01:31:57 -0800
Subject: I am Mr. Scott

Hello,

I am Mr. Scott Smith the Assistant Director Inspection Unit/United
Nation Inspection Agent in Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport
Georgia USA. During my recent withheld package routine check at the
Airport Storage Vault, I discovered an abandoned shipment from a
Diplomat from London and when scanned it revealed an undisclosed sum
of money in a metal trunk box. The consignment was abandoned because
the Content 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 United States Non Inspection Charges which is $3,700USD. On my
assumption, the box will contain about $2.5 Million$3 Million and the
consignment is still left in our Storage House here at the Hartsfield
Atlanta International Airport Georgia till date. The details of the
Boxes including your name, your email address and the official
document from the United Nations office in Geneva are tagged on the
Metal boxes.

However, to enable me confirm if you are the actual recipient of this
consignment as the assistant director of the Inspection Unit, 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. Please note that this consignment is supposed to have been
returned to the United States 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 which is ( scottssm03@gmail.com ) for quick
processing and response. Once I confirm you as the actual recipient of
the trunk box, I can get everything concluded within 3-6 hours upon
your acceptance and proceed to your address for delivery.

Lastly, be informed that the reason I have taken it upon myself to
contact you personally about this abandoned consignment is because I
want us to transact this business and share the money 70% for you and
30% for me since the consignment has not yet been returned to the
United States Treasury Department after being abandoned by the
diplomat so immediately the confirmation is made, I will go ahead and
pay for the United States 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 but you have to assure me of my
30% share.

PLEASE NOTE: If you received this message in your SPAM/JUNK folder,
that is because of the restrictions implemented by your Internet
Service Provider, treat it genuinely.

I wait to hear from you urgently if you are still alive and I will
appreciate if we can keep this deal confidential.

Mr. Scott Smith
Assistance Inspection Director
Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport
574 Airport South Pkwy

Anti-fraud resources: