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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: POST OFFICE <officedx1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: post.customercaredesk@info.al
Date: Wed, 1 Jun 2011 04:02:46 +0530 (IST)
Subject: REGULAR MAIL POST OFFICE




                         Post Office -Cotonou Benin
Rep.
                         Address: 20/22    Hospital  Route 
                         Cotonou Benin    Republic
                          Tell:  
(00229) 96846005
                           Telex : 53001 / 53120a

                         
                       ATTENTION: MY DEAR ,
 
     FROM REGULAR MAIL POST OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC.
DATE:31h/MAY/2011.
THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT THERE IS AN ATM
CARD IN THIS OFFICE DEPOSITED BY A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION BODY ON
THE 126th OF MAY 2011.
 
YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS WAS ATTACHED TO IT AND IT WILL  BE
POSTED TO YOU. WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU TO CONTACT US FOR YOUR CONFIRMABLE
ATM CARD WHICH CONTAINS THE SUM OF $1.2MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS AND SOME
VITAL DOCUMENTS. WHOEVER, KINDLY GET BACK TO THIS OFFICE(REGULAR MAIL POST OFFICE BENIN
REPUBLIC) TO AVOID FRAUDULENT ISSUES CONCERNING IN THIS SERVICE. CONTACT PERSON:
 
MR.JOHN
KALOU: 
     (post.customercaredesk@info.al)
Telephone (00229)
96846005
 
YOU ARE TO CONFIRM AND PROVIDE TO US YOUR POSTAL
ADDRESS BELOW.
 
YOUR FULL
NAME..........
YOUR COUNTRY............
         YOUR POSTAL
ADDRESS.......
      YOUR DIRECT PHONE........
YOUR
ID....................

NOTE: THAT YOU ARE TO
PAY FOR THE  STAMP DUTY
FEE THE SUM OF $59 USD.YOU ARE ADIVSE TO SEND THE STAMP DUTY FEE THROUGH
WESTERN UNION TO THE POST OFFICE WITH THE MANAGER'S NAME BELOW AND FORWARD THE
PAYMENT INFORMATION TO THE POST OFFICE EMAIL
 
  FOR IMMEDIATE STAMP OF YOUR POSTAL PAPER WORK AND THE
IMMEDIATE POSTAGE TO YOU.
 
Receiver Name..Okafor C. Chidi
Country........Benin Du  Republic
City........Cotonou
Question.... Now
Answer..... Yes
AMOUNT......$59 USD 
 
FINALLY YOU SHOULD
BEAR IT IN MIND THAT EVERY CLAIMS HAS AN EXPIREING DATE (7) WORKING
DAYS .MEANHWILE YOU HAVE TO DO THIS VERY URGENTLY TO AVOID EXPIRATION.
 
Thanks
Your Best
Regard
MRS
ROSE OMA.

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