419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Russell Morgan."
Reply-To: <morganrussell758@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2015 17:30:48 -0800
Subject: THIS MESSAGE IS FROM SAINT PETERSBURG CUSTOM OFFICE IN FLORIDA PLEASE
RESPOND IMMEDIATELY

U.S Customs and Border Protection
14700 Teminal Blvd #120,
Clearwater, FL 33762, United States
>From the desk of Mr. Russell Morgan
Contact Tel. +1-727- 362- 8449

Attention: Please

Good day to you my dear and how are you doing today? This is Mr. Russell Morgan from saint Petersburg custom office in Florida United States of America, i am here to let you know that we received different types of consignment boxes from Atlanta Georgia airport with some peopleâ€™s name placed on it, among the consignment boxes that is still in our custody, your name was included, other consignment is from new jersey custom office , banks in Europe and some part of

Asia, all the consignment is here in our office, (FBI AND HOME LAND SECURITY REVENUE INCLUDING THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE )has given order for immediate release of the consignment boxes to the owners but we just want to be very sure of you and to know if you are still alive so that our office will not make any mistake or wrong delivery to someone else.

two days ago (Mrs. Susan brown) sent to us a message stating that she was a family member of you and she also said that you are no more alive and she made us to understood that you handed over your belonging to her when you was still alive so therefore the lady is demanding from our office the two consignment boxes to be release to her as she is trying to stand as your next of kin but we are still waiting to see if you will respond to this email before three days time because,(HOME LAND SECURITY REVENUE)(FBI) AND (UNITED NATIONS) warned us to be very careful in our dealings with you and that was the reason why we ignored the message from Mrs. Susan brown but still awaiting to see if you will respond to this alert message for us to be sure that you are still alive before we tell you the next line of action and the best way you can received your consignment boxes without any more delay on it.

Thanks
Mr. Russell Morgan
Customs Department Director
SAINT Pertersburg Airport Florida

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam