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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: "Richard D. Lenski" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ricd.lenski77@mail15.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 10:16:07 -0400
Subject: Notification

Hi,
 
I am Richard D. Lenski, Chief Inspection Agent- United Nations Inspection Unit at John F. Kennedy International airport, New York- working hand in hand with Department of Homeland Security and U.S Customs and Border Protection. During our investigation, I discovered an abandoned shipment from a Diplomat from Africa via UN office-London UK and when scanned it revealed an undisclosed sum of money in a metal trunk box weighing approximately 25kg each. The consignment was abandoned because the Content was not properly declared by the consignee as money rather it was declared as photographic materials and personal effect to avoid diversion by the shipping agent and also the Diplomat inability to pay for Non Inspection Fees.
 
On my assumption, each of the boxes will contain about $3Million to $4Million each and the consignment is still left in the airport storage facility till today. The consignment is two metal boxes with weight of about 25kg each. Apparently, the details of the consignment including your name and address are tagged on the Metal Trunk boxes.
 
Provide your name, phone number and full home address, to cross check if it corresponds with the name and address on the consignment including the name of nearest airport around your city and other details. You can send the requested information to me by email for onward delivery. All communication must be held extremely confidential. I can get everything concluded within 24 hours upon your acceptance and proceed to your address for delivery if you assure me of sharing the content 30%/70% with you on my arrival to your house.
 
I want to transact this business with you and share the money, since the shipper has abandoned it and disappeared. I will pay for the Non inspection fee and arrange for the boxes to be moved out of this airport to your address by myself. But I will share it 30%/70% with you.
 
Below is my direct telephone number but send me all the requested information to my email, rlenski1@aol.com.
 
Richard D. Lenski
INSPECTION UNIT
J.F Kennedy International Airport, New York
Tel: 17188317166

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