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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: "CENTRAL BANK" (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2011 04:25:06 -0400
Subject: THIS IS YOUR CONSIGNMENT TRACKING STATUS

HELLO

THIS IS YOUR CONSIGNMENT TRACKING STATUS
PUT THE
LINK,http://www.dhl.com/content/g0/en/express/tracking.shtml?brand=DHL&AWB=4603153310

I AM VERY SORRY THAT I DID NOT INFORM YOU THAT YOU PACKAGE LEFT THIS COUNTRY
ON JULY 6TH 2011 TO YOUR DESTINATION, THE PACKAGE WAS STOPED BY CUSTOM OFFICER
MR RONALD WILSON AT THE CUSTOM CHECKING POINT AT THE AIRPORT.

THE CONTENT OF YOUR PACKAGE IS $2.5 MILLION USA DOLLAR
THEY REQUESTED FOR MONEY LAUNDRY CERTIFICATE BEFORE THEY WILL RELEASE THIS
CONSIGNMENT TO DHL DELIVERY AGENT.

YOUR CONSIGNMENT ARRIVE IN CINCINNATI HUB - USA ON JULY 8TH 2011 AND DHL
MANAGER DID NOT INFORM ME ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE THEN.
I JUST CONTACTED TODAY TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE RECEIVE THE CONSIGNMENT AND THEY
TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE PROBLEM WITH CUSTOM.

I WENT TO THE CUSTOM OFFICE HERE IN NIGERIA TO INQUIRE ABOUT WHAT TO DO TO GET
THIS CONSIGNMENT RELEASE TO YOU.
THE CUSTOM MANAGER TOLD ME THAT WE HAVE TO OBTAIN MONEY LAUNDRY CERTIFICATE.
THE COST OF THE CERTIFICATE IS $120.00 ONLY

SO YOU HAVE TO SEND THE $120.00 TODAY WITH THE INFORMATION BELOW.

RECEIVER NAME...FRANK OLORI
COUNTRY.....LAGOS NIGERIA
AMOUNT...$120.00
TEST Q...HI
ANSWER...HI
MTCN...................
EMAIL..cntrldmn1@gmail.com

I AM WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU TODAY SO THAT I WILL GET THE CERTIFICATE TODAY
AND FORWARD IT TO USA CUSTOM AUTHORITY

YOU CONSIGNMENT WILL BE RELEASE IMMEDIATELY AND DELIVERY WILL BE IN PROGRESS
TODAY IF YOU CAN BE ABLE TO SEND MONEY AS I INSTRUCTED YOU AND FORWARD THE MTCN

YOUR URGENT RESPOND IS HIGHLY APPRECIATED

BEST REGARD
MR YOUKI BENSON
FROM CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA

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