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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: "Setve" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <stevewsmailbox@rediffmail.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Mar 2010 10:49:42 +1200
Subject: RE: CONSIGNMENT SHIPPING NOTIFICATION

RE: CONSIGNMENT SHIPPING NOTIFICATION

Dear Friend,

I am Mr. Dr. Steven Watson, (Branch Manager) Ecobank.

Yes you really do not know me, I am entrusting this Boxes in you. This is a business that will change your life if only you give me your trust.

I have 2 Boxes and they both contain the total sum of $25.5m (Twenty Five Million and Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollar only).but the

Diplomat in possession of those boxes does not know the contents of the box as he was meant to JUST deliver the Boxes alone.

The money in question belongs to an American Engineer who died in an accident, so I and my colleague decided to move the funds to his next of kin

which is Mr. James Robert. The Diplomat arrived the USA and have been trying to reach Mr. James Robert but to no avail and they will be returning

back to Ghana soon, so I decided to contact you so you can be able to receive the Boxes from the Diplomat and pay them the charges while after

then, I shall give you 15% of the total sum if you successfully help me receive the money.

I shall be coming over there to join you to invest in a business as I have already sent my company a resignation letter, so your advice will be needed

as I want to invest in the Real Estate Sector, or if you know any lucrative business to invest in. I will like us to drink over this once this is done

successfully as well.

Send me your contact information’s so that the Diplomat can reach you immediately.

Regards
Dr. Steven Watson
stevewsmailbox@rediffmail.com

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