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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: "Mr.Garry Olsen." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <garryolsen555@inmail24.com>
Date: Wed, 19 May 2010 10:34:14 -0700
Subject: From Mr.Garry Olsen.

DEAREST FRIEND,

CONFIDENTIAL


I KNOW THIS WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW ME. I AM MR. GARRY OLSEN; I WORK IN A WELL KNOWN BANK IN
LONDON WHICH I WILL DISCLOSED TO YOU LATER AS THE TRANSACTION GROW,AM IN THE PACKAGING AND COURIER DEPARTMENT. I GOT YOUR
CONTACT AMONGS OTHERS FROM A SEARCH INTO THE INTERNET AND WAS INSPIRED TO SEEK YOUR CO-OPERATION,I NEED YOU ASSISTANCE IN
HELPING TO CLEAR SOME PACKAGE WHICH IS NOW IN AMERICA,THE PACKAGE WAS SHIPPED THROUGH OUR ACCREDITED COURIER AGENT IN LONDON
TO THE UNITED STATE AND THE CONTENTS OF THE PACKAGE IS $20,000,000.00 ALL IN $100.00 BILLS, BUT THE COURIER COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW THAT
IT IS MONEY THAT I HAVE IN THE PACKAGE.


ALL I NEED FROM YOU IS YOUR ASSISTANCE IN HELPING ME TO CLEAR THIS PACKAGE AND ALL THE REQUIRED DOCUMENT WILL BE FORWARDED TO YOU
FOR CLAIMS AS SOON AS I HEAR FROM YOU THAT YOU ARE READY TO ASSIST ME.AS SOON AS THE PACKAGE WAS RECEIVED BY YOU,I WILL REWARD
YOU WITH 30% OF THE TOTAL SUM AND 70% WILL BE FOR ME.PLEASE NOTE THAT MY IDENTITY MUST NOT BE REVEALED TO ANYBODY,ALSO I WILL NEED
SOME LITTLE INFORMATION FROM YOU,JUST TO BUILD TRUST IN EACH OTHER AND ALSO IT WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE COURIER COMPANY WITH THE
PACKAGE BEFORE YOU WRITE TO THE COMPANY,YOUR INFORMATION IS SAFE WITH ME.BELOW ARE THE INFORMATION NEEDED.

[1] Full Names:
[2] Contact address:
[3] Direct Telephone:
[4] Date of birth:
[5] What you do for a living:

IF THIS ARRANGEMENT IS OKAY BY YOU, YOU CAN E-MAIL ME, FOR SECURITY REASONS,OTHER MODALITIES WILL BE DISCUSSED AS SOON AS YOU GET
BACK TO ME INCLUDING SENDING OF THE KEYS TO THE BOXES TO YOU.

NOTE: COMMUNICATION SHOULD BE STRICTLY THROUGH MY PRIVATE E-MAIL AND PHONE FOR SECURITY REASONS. GOD BLESSES YOU AND YOUR
FAMILY FOR YOUR HELP.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MR.GARRY OLSEN.

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