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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: "SCOTT SMITH" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <scottsmiths@voila.fr>
Date: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 13:43:27 +0100
Subject: From ATL

Hello,

I am Scott Smith the Asst Director Inspection Unit/United Nations in Hartsfield Atlanta Intl Airport Georgia USA. During my recent withheld package check at the Airport Storage Vault, I discovered an abandoned shipment from a Diplomat and when scanned it revealed an undisclosed sum of money in a metal trunk box. The boxes was abandoned because the Contents of the boxes was not declared by the consignee as “MONEY “ rather it was declared as personal effect to avoid interrogation and also the inability of the diplomat to pay for the Non Inspection Charges of $3,700USD. On my assumption, the boxes will contain about $2.5 Million to $3 Million, and the consignment is still left in our Storage House here at the Hartsfield Atlanta till date.

The details of the consignment including your names, your email address and the official document from the United Nations office in Geneva are tagged on the Metal Trunk boxes. Please note that this consignment is supposed to have been returned to the US Treasury Department as unclaimed delivery due to the delays in concluding the clearance so as a result of this, I will not be able to receive your details on my official email account. So in order words to enable me cross check your details, I will advise you send the required details to my private email address which is ( scott.smith63@aol.com ) for quick processing and response. To enable me confirm if you are the actual recipient of this boxes I will advise you provide your current Phone Number and Full Address, to enable me cross check if it corresponds with the address on the official documents including the name of nearest Airport around your city. I can get everything concluded within 3-6 hours upon your acceptance an!
d proceed to your address for deli
Be informed that the reason I have taken it upon myself to contact you personally about these Boxes is because I want us to transact this business and share the money 70% for you and 30% for me since the consignment has not yet been returned to the Treasury Dept after being abandoned by the diplomat so immediately the confirmation is made, I will go ahead and pay for the Non Inspection Fee of $3,700 dollars and arrange for the box to be delivered to your doorstep Or I can bring it by myself to avoid any more trouble but you have to assure me of my 30% share? If we can keep this deal confidential then we will make progress. I want you to know that I am not trying to play any jokes with you as this deal is 100% real and risk free. I will call you on your mobile number as soon as I receive your email, so we can plan ahead.

Scott Smith

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