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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. MICHAEL PETERSON." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <michaelpeterson00002008@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 17 May 2013 00:05:21 +0100
Subject: MR. BEN COLLINS.AIRPORT INSPECTION UNIT. HEATHROW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

Mr. Ben Collins.
Airport Inspection Unit.
Heathrow International Airport.
234 Bath Road Hayes Middlesex
UB3 5AP United Kingdom.
 
Good day,
 
Please confirm if you are the owner of the above name and contact address as the address is what we have in the two abandoned consignment boxes here in Heathrow International Airport London UK.
 
I am Mr. Ben Collins.Director Airport Inspection Unit United Nations Agent in Heathrow International Airport London UK. During our investigation, I discovered an abandoned shipment from a Diplomat from West Africa under ship forwarder was transferred from west African Airport to our facility here in LONDON (United Kingdom) and when scanned it revealed an undisclosed sum of money in a Metal Trunk Box weighing approximately 110kg each. The consignment was abandoned because the Content was not properly declared by the consignee as money rather it was declared as personal effect to avoid diversion by the Shipping Agent also the Diplomat inability to pay for Non Inspection Fees.
 
On my assumption, each of the boxes will contain more that $3 to $4M each and the consignment is still left in storage house till today through a registered shipping Company, Courier Dispatch Service Limited a division of Tran Guard Ltd. The Consignment they are two metal box with weight of about 110kg each (Internal dimension: W61 x H156 x D73 (cm). Effective capacity: 680 L.) Approximately.
 
The details of the consignment including your name the official document from United Nation office in London are tagged on the Metal Trunk box. You should provide your Phone Number full address, name of nearest Airport around and other details or disregard. You can send the required details to me for onward delivery.
 
 
All communication must be held extremely confidential. I can get everything concluded within 3-6 hours upon your acceptance and proceed to your address for delivery. But I must get assurance from you concerning my 50% before I will proceed.
 
I want us to transact this business and share the money, since the shippers have abandoned it and ran away. I will pay for the Non inspection fee and arrange for the boxes to be moved out of this Airport to your address, once we are through I will deploy the services of a secured shipping Company geared to provide the security it needs to your doorstep, or I can bring it by myself to avoid any more trouble. But I will share it 50% to you and 50% to me.
 
If you assure me of my 50% and agreed with my condition, you should contact me.
 
I await to hear from you.
 
MR.BEN COLLINS.
Inspection Officer

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