419 scam: "Steve Watson"<071498@prodigy.net> Read Careful

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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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "the consignment" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "trunk box" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "consignment " (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Steve Watson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <stevewatson608@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2015 03:57:56 +0800
Subject: Read Careful

Hello ,

My name is Steve Watson, i am the Director Inspection Unit United Nations Inspection Agent. We are currently in Florida International Airport California for official inspection while i discovered An abandoned shipment via Diplomat with your name tagged on it, when i personally scanned it, it revealed an undisclosed sum of money in a Metal Trunk Box weighing approximately 65kg each.On my assumption, each of the boxes will contain more than $4M or above in each on further investigation, i discovered that The consignment was abandoned due to wrong declaration of the content, also the Diplomat inability to pay for Non Inspection Fees.

As it stands, i want to use my good office to process the document,pay the non inspection fee on your behalf and deliver the boxes to your address by myself for mutual benefit, on the condition that you will give me 30% of the total fund contained in the boxes upon delivery. All communication must be held extremely confidential. I can get everything concluded within 24 to 48 hours and proceed to your address for delivery upon your acceptance. But i must get assurance from you concerning my 30% before i will proceed. Do get back to me as soon as you receive this mail.

Best Regards,
Steve Watson

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam