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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: "Arthur Francis Udom" <francis8@wm83bu6ua.homepage.t-online.de>
Reply-To: <au364373@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Sep 2011 21:39:45 -0700
Subject: I look forward to your urgent response.

National Vault Services
Deposit Department
Federal Secreteriat
Ikoyi-Lagos
 
Dear Beneficiary,
 
This is to inform you that arrangements have been concluded regarding the shipment of your consignment of funds to your country. I chose to conclude shipment arrangements before contacting you to avoid hitches. I found out that this consignment has been lying here because of non-payment of fees.
 
This is why I decided to use my position as the Shipment officer in charge of the National Security warehouse. (This is where all the abandoned funds and consignments in Nigeria are kept at the orders of the Government of Nigeria).
 
The consignment is now ready for shipment and should leave for your country immediately your response to this message is received. It is a metal box, silver in colour with a weight of about 150kg, the box is will be declared as containing diplomatic materials only, will be brought in by a staff of our foreign desk (Embassy) in your country.
 
Contact me immediately you receive this email to enable me give you further information on the movement of the consignment and when it is expected to arrive your country.
 
I am doing this for you hoping that I will be generously remunerated when you receive your fund.
 
Note: I know the content of the Box because I could see the amount you are being owned by the Federal Government. This is why I decided to get involved. You must also know that this arrangement do not concern all the people you were dealing with in Nigeria before today as this consignment/Payment has been surrendered to the Government, hence my involvement.
 
I look forward to your urgent response.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Arthur Francis Udom
Operations Manager
Email:ga675667@gmail.com

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