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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: barry williams <barrywilliams13@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <barrywilliams59@yahoo.de>
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 19:54:40 +0200
Subject: PAYMENT BY DIPLOMATIC COURIER SERVICE.



PAYMENT BY DIPLOMATIC COURIER SERVICE.EQUITY FINANCE AND SECURITY FIRM THAILANDTINUBU SQUARE CENTER BANGKOK THAILAND.[FINANCIAL CONTROLLER.(CBB.)
ATTENTION;SIR/MADAM.

THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR FUNDS HAS BEEN PROGRAMMED FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE INTO YOUR NOMINATED ACCOUNT BUT WE CAN NOT RELEASE INTO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT, BECAUSE WE ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF) SO OUR METHOD OF PAYMENT IS BY DIPLOMATIC MEANS OF DELIVERY.

NOTE;THAT EVERY ARRANGEMENT REGARDING YOUR FUNDS RELEASE THROUGH DIPLOMATIC SERVICES HAS BEEN MADE,YOUR FUNDS HAVE BEEN PACKAGED IN A CONSIGNMENT.

BE INFORMED THAT THE DIPLOMATIC AGENCY HAS TO MOVE DOWN TO YOUR COUNTRY IN ORDER TO DELIVER THE CONSIGNMENT TO YOUR DOORSTEP.

I WANT YOU TO SEND YOUR DIRECT MOBILE PHONE AND HOME ADDRESS TO ME IMMEDIATELY, SO THAT AS SOON AS THE DIPLOMATIC ARRIVE IN YOUR COUNTRY THEY WILL IMMEDIATELY CONTACT YOU.

LOOKING FORWARD TO HEAR FROM YOU
YOURS FAITHFULLY.
BARRY WILLIAMS.FINANCIAL CONTROLLER.(CBN)
_________________________________________________________________
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