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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: "Barr Mathew West UN Ambassador" (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2010 23:49:19 +0100
Subject: YOUR $5.5 MILLIONS THE WORLD AMBASSADORS TO UNICEF. UNDD, UN.

 
 
 
 
 
 
DEAR BELOVED.
 
HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY, AM BARRISTER MATHEW WEST,I AM VERY EXCITED TO INFORM YOU THAT I SHALL BE REPRESENTING U.S AMBASSADOR IN A GENERAL FINANCIAL BUSINESS RESORT (GATHERINGS) SUMMIT WITH SOME VERY IMPORTANT PERSONALITIES (V.I.P) OF OTHER COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD CONCERNING THE PRESENT GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS AND THE HIGH RATE OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND THE MEETING SHALL BE HOLD ON THE  LAST DAY OF THIS MONTH 2010 IN NEW YORK. I KNOW THIS IS NOT WHERE YOU COME FROM BUT ALL AM SAYING IS THAT AS PERSONAL ASSISTANT/ ADVISER TO THE UNITED NATION  I SHALL MAKE SURE THAT ALL UNRELEASED FUND SHALL BE DECLARE RELEASE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE MEETING IS BEEN HOLD AS IT WILL HELP BRING DOWN THE RATE OF ECONOMIC CRISIS GOING ON AT THE MOMENT SO ITS THE MAJOR REASON OF THIS VERY IMPORTANT MEETING, I SHALL BE REPRESENTING UN AS ONE OF THE SENIOR STAFF TO HELP YOU RECEIVE YOUR $5.5 MILLIONS USD WHICH HAS BEEN APPROVED BY UNITED NATION SECRETARY GENERAL MR. BAN KI MOON.
 
THE WORLD AMBASSADORS TO UNICEF. UNDD, UN HAS AGREED TO HELP YOU GET YOUR LONG AWAITED FUND BY AUTHORIZING THE PAYING COURIER OR BANKS TO RELEASE THE FUND TO  ME IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE MEETING, I SHALL BRING YOUR PACKAGE/CONSIGNMENT WHICH CONTAINS A CASH WORTH SUM OF $5.5M ALONG WITH ME TO YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS SO AS SOON AS THE MEETING IS OVER I WILL BE COMING DIRECTLY TO YOUR HOUSE BY MYSELF.(MISTAKE IS ABSOLUTELY NOT ACCEPTED, RECONFIRM THE ADDRESS WHERE YOU WANT THE PACKAGE TO BE DELIVERED AND THE NEAREST AIRPORT TO YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE ALSO I NEED YOUR CELL PHONE NUMBER TO ENABLE ME CALL YOU ALSO A COPY OF YOUR ID OR DRIVER LICENSE IS NEEDED FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSE AS ITS MOST BE PRESENTED TO  ME BEFORE THE FUND FINAL HAND OVER TO YOU AS THE BENEFICIARY).
 
I ENSURE THAT ALL THE AMBASSADORS PLEADED ON YOUR BEHALF FOR YOUR PACKAGE  CONSISTING OF YOUR FUND TO BE RELEASE TO US FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERING TO YOU BY OURSELF WHICH HAS BEEN APPROVED. THE PAYMENT APPROVAL DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR THE SMOOTH DELIVERY OF YOUR PACKAGE.
 
REPLY VIA THIS MAIL ID ONLY::mathewwest@ufo.tc
PHONE NO::009-234-8130-211-605
 
I AWAIT YOUR FASTEST RESPONSE AS SOON AS YOU HAVE FURNISH THIS REQUIRED INFORMATION FOR EASY ARRIVAL TO YOUR PLACE WITH YOUR LONG AWAITED FUND.
 
MATHEW WEST CHAMBERS PERSONAL ASSISTANT.
THE  WORLD AMBASSADORS TO UNICEF. UNDD, UN.
 

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