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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: DR. BRUNO COLEEN <un_office_maritime@yahoo.ca>
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:31:01 -0400
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE

UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATIONS, 3 WHITEHALL COURT, SW1A 2EL, MARITIME SECURITY AND AVIATION UNIT, UNITED KINGDOM,LONDON. FROM THE DESK OF THE CHAIRMAN, SECURITY DECONGESTION COMMITTEE SEAPORTS & AIRPORT PRESIDENTIAL CASTLE,HIGH STREET. RE: RELEASE OF YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOX IN YOUR NAME. ATTN;SIR/ BENEFICIARYS; THIS IS TO BRING TO YOUR NOTICE FOR ALL THE FOREIGN CONSIGNEE THAT AFTER THE BOARD MEETING WHICH WAS HELD BY UN AND ECOWAS BOARD MEMBERS, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE G8 COMMITTEE,WE ARE GIVEN YOU THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE YOUR COUNSIGNMENT/FUNDS WHICH HAS BEEN HELD FOR LONG PERIOD OF TIME DUE TO YOUR WRONG DEALINGS WITH NONE UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS AND NONE GOVERNMENTAL DOCUMENTATION, AND WE LIKE YOU TO FOLLOW UP OUR INSTRUCTION NOW THAT UN HAS FINALLY APPROVED THE RELEASE OF YOUR FUND. UNITED NATIONS HAS DECIDED TO RELEASE THESE BOXES/FUND, DUE TO THE REPORTS OF FOREIGN INVESTORS LIKE YOU WHO'S CONSIGNMENTS BOXES AND FUNDS HAVE SINCE BEEN CEASED FOR LONG PERIOD OF TIME DUE TO SOME DOCUMENTS AND CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE THAT WAS NOT LEGALLY APPROVED BY UN. THE CONSIGNMENT BOXES WOULD HAVE BEEN RELEASED TO YOU SINCE, BUT YOU NEVER CAME FOR THE CLAIMS OF YOUR TWO CONSIGNMENT BOXES, SO WE WISH TO USE THIS MEANS OF OUR DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITIES, TO GET IT DELIVERED TO YOU AT YOUR DOOR STEP ADDRESS OVER THERE IN YOUR COUNTRY. WE WANT YOU TO FORWARD TO US THE FOLLOWINGS, SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY AFFECT THIS DELIVERY TO YOU WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DELAY. (1. COPY OF YOUR INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT OR DRIVERS LICENCE. (2. YOUR HOME AND OFFICE ADDRESS. (3 YOUR PERSONAL TELEPHONE NUMBER, AND FAX NUMBER. ONCE WE RECEIVE THIS FROM YOU, A U.N ACCREDITED DIPLOMAT WHO WILL ACCOMPANY THE DELIVERY OF YOUR TRUNK BOXES AT YOUR DOOR STEP ADDRESS WILL BE APPOINTED WHILE HIS FLIGHT SCHEDULE WILL BE FORWARD TO YOU FOR CONFIRMATION OF HIS TIME AND DATE OF ARRIVAL IN YOUR COUNTRY. ALSO SEND TO US NAME OF YOUR NEAREST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO YOUR CITY OR THE AIRPORT YOU WANT THE DIPLOMAT TO ARRIVE WITH YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOXES. GET BACK TO US ASAP. THIS DELIVERY IS URGENT,AND ONCE WE REVCEIVE YOUR REPLY WE WILL START PROCESSING ALL THE RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT WILL EMPOWER THE DIPLOMAT TO SUCCESSFULLY MAKE DELIVERY OF YOUR CONSIGNMENT WITHOUT INTERFERENCE OF ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS IN YOUR COUNTRY. EMAIL: un_office_maritime@yahoo.ca REGARDS, DR. BRUNO COLEEN

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