419 scam: "Chief Mr. George Kobra" <office-----file963@att.net> Complement of the day to you and your beloved family.

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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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)
- "hundred thousand 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "contact the diplomat" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "a diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "diplomaticagent50@globomail.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Chief Mr. George Kobra" <office-----file963@att.net>
Reply-To: diplomaticagent50@globomail.com
Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2011 03:28:39 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Complement of the day to you and your beloved family.

Attention my dear

Complement of the day to you and your beloved family. We are writing to inform you that the Government of this country has asked us to divert all unclaimed funds that belongs to the foreigners who are not ready to receive their funds to the Government of Benin treasury. Due to that we are really aware that you need to receive your fund and have already spent some money and time in getting the fund despite that you were unable to obtained the Clearance Certificate which was demanded by the Authorities.

Due to that you have spent some money and time in order to receive the funds, we could not allow all the money you spent and the time you wasted to be in vain. We have cashed the fund, packaged it in a box and have registered it with a diplomat to deliver it to your address.

The diplomat departed this morning and we have been expecting a call from you and the diplomat because we told him to call us once he arrived at your address so that I will speak with you to make sure he has delivered the package to you but the call we got from the diplomat few minutes ago was that he has lost your information at the Albany International Air Port, New York. I should have given him the information but I could not find it in our mailbox due to too many junk mails we receives and we used to delete all messages everyday. I got to found only your email address because it was in our address book but your other info were deleted.

However, we require your urgent action and officially urge you to reconfirm the following information below to the diplomat right away so that he will deliver your consignment box to you immediately.

Your full Name:....................
Home address:.....................
Your direct Tel & Fax Number:......................
Name of your nearest Air Port :......................
A copy of your identification:.......................

Please do contact the Diplomatic Agent with the email and phone number below with the information required. Name; Mr. Godwin Beck Campbell (Diplomat Afloat Officer) E-mail (diplomaticagent50@globomail.com) His phone number in New York is 518-772-1873. He is waiting to hear from you today with the information.

Note once again: The Diplomatic agent does not know that the content of the consignment box is $2,500,000.00 (Two Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) and on no circumstances should you let him know the content. The consignment was moved from here as family treasures, so never allow him to open the box.

Yours Faithful,
Chief Mr. George Kobra

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam