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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: "GEN PETER SMITH" <cbank20@gmail.com>
Reply-To: <sklante007@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2007 14:08:03 -0800
Subject: YOUR IMMUNITY PAYMENT IS READY.

THE PRESIDENCY
OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER
GREAT BRITAIN.
TEL +44-792-400-4260

CONFIDENTIAL DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY PAYMENT

ATTENTION BENEFICIARY:

Based on our investigation department, we wish to warn you against some
Miscreants, Hoodlums and Touts who go about scamming innocent people by
claiming to be who they are not and thereby tarnishing the image of this
wonderful country. I am Lt General Peter Smith (Rtd), National Security Adviser
to the new Prime Minister of Great Britain.

I am delighted to inform you that the contract panel which just concluded it
seating in Manchester City just released your name amongst contractors to benefit from
the Diplomatic Immunity Payment. This Panel was primarily delegated to
investigate manipulated contract claims, contracts and over-invoiced payment as
the effect has eaten deep into the economy of our dear country. However, we
wish to bring to your notice that your contract profile is still reflecting in
our central computer as unpaid beneficiary while auditing was going on. Your
contract/Inheritance file was forwarded to my office by the auditors as unclaimed fund, we
wish to use this medium to inform you that for the time being the Government Of Great Britain
has stopped further payment through bank to bank transfer due to beneficiary's numerous
petitions to United Nations against Britain on wrong payment and diversion of contract/Inheritance
funds to different accounts.

In this regards, we are going to send your contract part payment of GBP 1,000.000.00(One Million
British Pounds Sterlings) to you via our accredited shipping company and I have secured every needed
documents to cover the money while the diplomat will get it delivered to you
right to your door step. Note: The money is coming on 2 security proof boxes.
The boxes are sealed with synthetic nylon seal and padded with machine.

You don't have to worry about anything as the transaction is 100% risk free. The
boxes are coming with a Diplomatic agent who will accompany the boxes to your
house address. All you need to do now is to send your full house address
and your identity such as, international passport or drivers license and your
mobile phone and telephone number, The Diplomatic Agent will travel with it. He
will call you immediately he arrives to your country's airport. I hope you
understand me. Kindly get back to this ofice today also with the requested informations
so that we can proceed on this matter as soon as possible.

1)Your full name.

2)Phone, fax and mobile

3)company name, position and address.

4)profession, age and marital status.

5)Copy of int'l passport,drivers license,or any valid ID card via e-mail
attachment.

Bear in mind that the diplomat does not know the original contents of the
boxes. What was declared to them as the contents is Sensitive Photographic Film
Materials for Security Reasons. We did not declare money to them. If they
call you and ask you the contents,tell them the same thing. We will secure
the Diplomatic Immunity Clearance Certificate (D.I.C.C) which will make him pass
custom checkpoints here safely without any hitch until he get to the united states
where he will notify you via phone call of what the necessary United States Customs DUTY FEE will be.

Confirm the receipt of this message and send the requirements to me immediately because your boxes
are scheduled to leave as soon as we hear from you.

Best Regards,
Lt General Peter Smith (Rtd).
National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister
Great Britain.

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