419 scam: "Smith Kangami"<smith.kangami1@hotmail.com> PLEASE YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED

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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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "the consignment" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "consignment " (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "million united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
This email message is a orphan scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Smith Kangami" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <smith.kangami@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 11:13:21 -0700
Subject: PLEASE YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED

Dear Daddy,

I am writing this mail to you with pains, tears and sorrow from my heart, with due respect, trust and humanity, I appeal to you to exercise a little patience and read through my letter, My name is Kangami 23 years old and the only son of my late parents Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kangami. My father was a highly reputable business magnet-(a cocoa merchant) who operated in the capital of Ghana during his days.

Before the death of my father he deposited ($15.5 Million United States Dollars) and 158 stones of diamond in a security company in Ghana as containing family valuables please, i wish to invest this money on a profitable business venture in your country.

The reason I want the security company to ship the consignments containing the money to your country is because I needed a maximum security/safety of my consignment and no body or government organization can trace the where about of the money, that is why I needed a foreign beneficiary who will understand my situation and be of help to me.

The Security Company didn't know the real content of the box, because it was deposited under a secret arrangement as family valuables.

If you are interested to assist me to retrieve it from the security company and have it sent to you in your country, please get back to me as soon as you receive my mail for more details. I am willing to offer you 30% for your mutual understanding.

Thank you. My sincere regards,

Smith Kangami

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam