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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: george cooper <georgecooper016@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2014 12:43:16 -0800
Subject: Fund For Investment From Inspection Officer Is Confidential.


Dear Friend,

I am Mr. George Cooper, Director Inspection Unit United Nations Inspection
Agency at O.R .Tambo International airport Johannesburg (South Africa)
During my inspection duty at the Airport, I discovered An abandoned
shipment by a Diplomat from Syria, the shipment was transferred from Newark
Liberty International Airport New Jersey to our facility in Johannesburg
(South Africa) and when scanned it revealed an undisclosed sum of money in
a Metal Trunk Box weighing approximately 120kg.

The consignment was abandoned because the Content was not properly declared
by the consignee as money rather it was declared as personal effect to
avoid diversion by the Shipping Agent, also the Diplomat's inability to pay
for Non Inspection Fees. My assumption is that the box will contain more
than US$11M to US$12M and the consignment is still left in storage house
till today through a registered shipping Company, Courier Dispatch Service
Limited a division of Trans guard LTD.

The details of the consignment including the name on the official document
from United Nations office in South Africa are tagged on the Metal Trunk
box. Please Provide your Phone Number, or how you will like to receive the
fund either through delivery or bank transfer and confirmation of your
nearest Airport and other details. You can send the required details to me
for onward delivery. All communication must be held extremely confidential.
I can get everything concluded within 72 hours upon your acceptance and
proceed to your address for delivery. But I must get assurance from you
concerning my 60% before I will proceed. Meanwhile now I have decided to
invest this money in your country or anywhere safe for security and
political reasons. I want you to help me for my choice for investment
purposes on these areas below:

1) Transport Industry.
2) Mechanized Agriculture.
3) Estate Investment.

I want us to transact this business and share the fund, since the shipper
has abandoned it and ran away. I will pay for the Non inspection fee and
arrange for the box to be moved out of this Airport to your address, but I
will share it 40% to you and 60% to me, you have to assure me of my 60%. I
got your contact through South Africa Site agency Information Exchange and
decided to write you.


Make sure you respond to me via my direct email (
georgecooper@executivemail.co.za)

Below is my direct telephone number and I am waiting to hear from you.

Mr. George Cooper.

Inspection Officer (Tel: +27 731908051)

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