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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: "Doug W. Burger" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dougburgerw.zim.shipping@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 20 May 2017 02:27:46 -0700
Subject: IT TOOK ME TIME TO LOCATE YOU

Good day,
 
I am contacting you regarding a special cargo that has been abandoned here at our warehouse for over a period of 2 years and when scanned, it revealed an undisclosed sum of money in it. From my findings, the cargo originated from Europe and the content was not declared as money by the consignor in order to avoid diversion by the shipping agent, and also failure to pay the special cargo Non-Inspection fee of US$3,200. I strongly believe the box will contain about US$15.5 million or more.
 
my proposal now is to present you as the recipient because it took me a long time to find and locate your address of the cargo since the shipper has abandoned it which is a possibility due to the fact it has been abandoned for a period whereby a new beneficiary can be presented to the clearance department for claim and also my position at this shipping service. You will pay for the Non-Inspection fee of US$3,200 and arrange for the cargo to be delivered to your address and you will give me an additional 10% for my work.
 
Alternatively, I can personally bring it myself and then you pay for my services, So kindly contact me via my direct email at: (dougburgerw.zim.shipping@gmail.com
), Thanks.
 
Regards,
Doug W. Burger
Asst. Operations Manager
Zim American Integrated Shipping Services Co LLC.
Solvang, CA 93463

Anti-fraud resources: