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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: "Juan Arriola" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <juanarriola@qq.com>
Date: Fri, 4 Apr 2014 11:12:14 +0200
Subject: Unclaimed Package

Hi,
 
   I am Juan Arriola, senior supervisor baggage unit at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Georgia. I have contacted you regarding an abandoned diplomatic consignment box which I discovered during my recent routine check at the airport storage vault and the scan report of the box revealed large amount of US dollar bills in it which could be approximately 3million dollars and the box is still left in our storage vault till date. According to my investigation, the box was scheduled for delivery to you by the delivery agent who was on transit to your city but was abandoned because he was unable to pay the US non-inspection and clearance charge of 1,800usd and the details of the consignment including your name, your email address and the official document.
 
I have taken it upon myself to contact you personally about this box so that we can transact this as a deal since it has not been returned to the US treasury department as unclaimed delivery and share the total money 80% for you and 20% for me. To confirm your details, do send me your full name, your home address, your home/mobile tel number ,the nearest airport close to you to my private email address ( juanarriola@qq.com). As soon as I confirm you as the beneficiary and upon your acceptance and willingness to co-operate with me, I will go ahead and pay the clearance fee of $1,800 and make arrangement for the box to be delivered to your door-step or I can bring it myself to ensure a successful delivery but you have to assure me of my 20% of the total money. I wait to hear from you urgently if you are alive and please remember all communication must be held confidential if we must succeed. I will call you after my confirmation.
 
 
Juan Arriola
 

Anti-fraud resources: