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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: "AMBASSADOR TERENCE P. MCCULLEY." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ambassadorterencep.mcculley80@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Fri, 28 Jun 2013 17:31:19 -0400
Subject: URGENT CONFIRMATION .

(American Citizens Services)
Embassy of the United States of America
Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive
Central District Area, Abuja.
Fax: (+234 703-426-9728)
E-mail: ambassadorterencep.mcculley80@yahoo.com.ph
Contact phone number +234 703-426-9728

DEAR BENEFICIARY ,

I SHALL BE COMING TO THE COUNTRY FOR AN OFFICIAL MEETING BY NEXT WEEK AND I WILL BE BRINGING YOUR INTEREST PAYMENT OF US$10,000,000.00 ALONG WITH ME BUT THIS TIME I WILL NOT GO THROUGH CUSTOMS BECAUSE AS AMBASSADOR TO ABUJA NIGERIA, I AM A UNITED NATION AGENT AND I HAVE THE VETOR POWER TO GO THROUGH CUSTOMS
I AM SCHEDULED TO HAVE A BRIEFING WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATES BY NEXT WEEK YOU SHOULD SEND YOUR CELL PHONE NUMBER AND THE ADDRESS WHERE YOU WANT ME TO BRING THE CONSIGNMENT PACKAGE .

YOU HAVE REALLY PAID SO MUCH AS I WAS MADE TO UNDERSTAND AND THAT IS WHY I HAVE PERSONALLY INTERVENED . YOU ARE A VERY LUCKY PERSON BECAUSE I SHALL BE BRINGING IT MYSELF AND THERE IS NOTHING ANYONE CAN DO ABOUT IT.

YOUR PACKAGE(US$10,000,000.00 } MUST BE REGISTERED AS AN AMBASSADORIAL PACKAGE FOR ME TO DEFEAT ALL ODDS AND THE COST OF REGISTERING IT IS USD$125.
THE FEE MUST BE PAID WITH NEXT 24 HOURS VIA WESTERN UNION/MONEY-GRAM SO THAT ALL NECESSARY ARRANGEMENT CAN BE MADE BEFORE TIME WILL BE AGAINST US.
YOU SHOULD SEND THE FEE DIRECTLY TO THE CARGO REGISTRATION OFFICER WITH THE INFO BELOW BY WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM.

CONTACT PERSON: JAMES OKOH
RECEIVER'S NAME: JAMES OKOH
ADDRESS: NIGERIA
TEXT QUESTION: GOD BLESSES?
ANSWER: AMERICA
AMOUNT $125
SENDERS NAME:
SENDERS ADDRESS:
MTCN

MY TRIP WILL BE BY MID NEXT WEEK AND I EXPECT YOU TO COMPLY BEFORE THEN SO THAT THE DELIVERY CAN BE COMPLETED. IF YOU DO NOT COMPLY, THEN IT WILL NOT BE MY FAULT IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE YOUR CONSIGNMENT PACKAGE.
.SIGN
HIS EXCELLENCY TERENCE P. MCCULLEY.
US AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA
TELEPHONE NUMBER +234 703-426-9728

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