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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: "SMITH JOHNSON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <smithjohnsonusdepartment@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2016 09:25:06 +0100
Subject: HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Hello
 
I'm Mr. Smith Johnson presently working as the  Director Inspection Unit in Abilene Muni Airport Kansas  . During our recent withheld package routine check at the Airport Storage Vault, I discovered an abandoned shipment left by a diplomat from africa who was supposed to deliver these packages to you but failed to provide necessary clearances needed by the US Customs and when scanned recently, it revealed an undisclosed sum of money in two Metal Trunk Boxes  The consignment was abandoned because the Contents of the consignment was not properly declared by the consignee as “MONEY” rather it was declared as personal effect to avoid diversion by the Shipping Agent and also the inability of the diplomat to pay for the  Non Inspection Charges .
 
On my assumption, each of the boxes will contain more than 2.5 Million  and the consignment is still left at our Storage House here  till date
 
However, to enable me confirm if you are the actual recipient of this consignment, I will advise you to provide your current Phone Number and Full Address, to enable me cross check if it corresponds with the address on the official documents including the name of nearest Airport around your city and other details. Please note that this consignment is supposed to have been returned to the United Nation and African  Treasury Department as unclaimed delivery due to the delays in concluding the clearance processes  Once I confirm you as the actual recipient of the trunk boxes, I can get everything concluded within 3-6 hours upon your acceptance and proceed to your address for delivery.
 
 
Smith Johnson
Office address
801 S. Washington
Abilene, KS 67410

Anti-fraud resources: