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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: "SMITH WILLIAMS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <smithwilliams883@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:19:56 +0500
Subject: UNITED NATIONS CONSIGNMENT DELIVERY




UNITED NATION DELIVERY.
FROM THE OFFICE UNITED NATION SECRETARY GENERAL
BAN KI-MOON REMITTANCE DEPT.AMERICAN PAYCENTER ASSIGNED

Attn: The Beneficiary,

I'm Mr Smith Williams by name, a united nations senior investigation officer. The UN Director has instructed me to investigate on your inheritance contract sum of $6.5 million united states dollars that you were supposed to receive on the 15th of Nov, 2011.

We have been assigned to release the above reference fund to you by order of the fund recovery committee of the United Nations in respect of the accrued interest in your overdue payment fund.

This payment is made in its cashiers mode into our ESCROW VAULT ACCOUNT for direct delivery via our delivery agency in our area of jurisdiction in your country. The Package came from the remittance department of the American Paycenter and you were made the beneficiary of this package and they enlisted my assistance in delivering the Package to you.

I will be heading to Heath row International Airport here to take a flight to your country of residence to deliver the Consignment to you as soon as l reconfirm the following information so as to ensure that am dealing with the right person.

1.Full Name.................
2.Residential Address.........
3.Age...........
4.Occupation...
5.Direct Telephone Numbers.........
6.A copy of your Driver's License.See Attachment.......

After verification of the information with what I have on database/file,I shall contact you so that we can make arrangements on the exact time the Shipping Company will leave the shores of this land to your country in delivery of your consignment.Send the requested information so that we can proceed,Congratulations.

Best Regards,

Mr.Smith Williams
Executive Director,
United Nations Investigation Office
Plot 617/618, Diplomatic Zone,
D/L:+

Anti-fraud resources: