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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: "SHAMSUDEEN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <doctor.usman080@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2014 09:32:42 +0100
Subject: RE: WAITING FOR YOUR CALL: +234, 8122 410 419

My Dear
    
 
This is to inform you that arrangements have been concluded as regards to the shipment of your consignment of funds of $20.5m us dollars to your country. I choose to conclude it and make sure it is off already before contacting you. I found out that this consignment has been lying here because of non-payment of shipment fees.
    
 
This is why I decided to use my connections as the Shipment officer in charge of the National Security warehouse. (This is where all the abandoned consignments in Nigeria are kept at the orders of the Government of Nigeria.) The consignment left Lagos Nigeria yesterday night en-route country via Lodon.
    
 
It is metal box, silver in color with a weight of about 150kg, the box is declared as containing diplomatic /inheritance documents only. The name of the Courier Company based in London is Air Courier International Ltd, Call me immediately so that I can give you the phone numbers of the courier company in London so that you confirm when the consignment will arrive your country.
    
 
I choose to do this for you because I studied your file and discovered that you have paid a lot of money before abandoning this consignment and I believe you will compensated me well when you receive the consignment.
    
 
Note: I know the content of the Box because I could see the amount you are being owned by the Federal Government.. This is why I decided to get involved. You must also know that this arrangement do not concern all the people you were dealing with in Nigeria before today as this consignment/Payment has been surrendered to the Government. Hence my involvement.
    
 
Meanwhile you are advice to forward to me your full receiving house address your full name tell phone number and attach a copy of your passport so that I will forward it to the security company in London for easy identification when delivering the consignment to you.
    
 
Best Regards,
DOCTOR USMAN SHAMSUDEEN
WAITING FOR YOUR CALL: +234, 8122 410 419
 

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