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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.James Knight" <officefile---7768@att.net>
Reply-To: internationinter@sify.com
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2011 08:19:42 -0800 (PST)
Subject: IS YOUR BROTHER IN BENIN REPUBLIC JAMES W











US Ambassador to
Benin Republic
 
Without mincing
words, I am convinced 100% that you have had bitter experience with various
'scammers' claiming to be high government officials and thereby defrauding you
of your 'hard-earned money'. The activities of these scammers has changed your
perspective about conducting business on the internet, and you now believed
there is no genuine business that can be conducted on the internet. Well, I am
an American and the internet was created by Americans for the purpose of
creating awareness for your products/services and conducting genuine business
with ease. I am fully committed to deliver the "diplomatic consignment" to you
in the United States in order to differentiate myself from the many Benin
Republic you have dealt with. I am a full citizen of the United States , but I
was on a Foreign Mission here in Benin as a US Ambassador. Hence, I am making
every efforts to ensure that no citizen of the United States is cheated by Benin
Republic .
 
Therefore, I need
your utmost support and understanding to actualize this dream. I also want you
to understand that I do trust you and I expect you to show me the same trust and
respect in return since trust is a 2-way street. On the other hand, trust is a
relationship of reliance. Trust also means being able to predict what other
people will do and what situations will occur.
 
Trust is both an
emotional and logical act. Emotionally, it is where you expose your
vulnerabilities to people, but believing they will not take advantage of your
openness. Logically, it is where you have assessed the probabilities of gain and
loss, calculating expected utility based on hard performance data, and concluded
that the person in question will behave in a predictable manner. In practice,
trust is a bit of both. I trust you because I have experienced your
trustworthiness by merely believing in what I have said, even when you have not
seen me, and because I have faith in human nature.
 
Frankly speaking, I
understand that anyone in your shoes will feel betrayed, but I still want you to
show me your trust by giving me the benefit of doubt on this delivery
arrangement. My identity and personality is verifiable, and I promise to deliver
the consignment to you in the United States without any hitch. Please do not
allow this mission to die off because of $89.00 dollars. I meant so well for you
and I believe you will appreciate me more when you have finally received your
partial payment of $6.5 million dollars upon my arrival with the package in
United States . I will use my position and personality to deposit the $6.5
million dollars into your bank account in the United States without questioning
from the financial monitoring authorities, since all documentations proving the
legitimacy of the funds has been processed.
 
Please don't see me
as one of the numerous dubious Benin republic you have dealt with in the past. I
am a different person entirely and I come from a different continent. I have the
American spirit in me and I hate cheaters. I promise to always uphold the
national unity of the United States . Please reply back ASAP and let me know
your possibility of sending the $89.00 dollars today.
 
You can send it via western union Or Money
Gram with below name.
 
Reciever's name......... Mr. Chinedu
Success
Country..........Benin Republic,
City...........Cotonou,
Text
Question.......God?
Answer..........Bless,
Amount ........$89usd,
Only
Mtcn no.......
Sender'sname.....
 
Respectfully
yours,
Mr.James Knight
Emails:( internationinter@sify.com)

US Ambassador to
Benin Republic

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