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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: "Colosino" (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2018 00:01:50 -0800
Subject: HI

Hello Good Friend

I have very vital information to give to you, but first I must have your
trust before I reveal it to you because it may cost me my job, so I need
somebody that I can trust for me to be able to reveal the secret to you.

I am Charles J.Colocino JR, head of luggage/baggage storage facilities
(Operations, Maintenance, and Transportation) here at the Harrisburg
International Airport, Pennsylvania USA. During my recent withheld package
routine check at the Airport Storage Vault, I discovered an abandoned
shipment from a Diplomat from London and when scanned it revealed an
undisclosed sum of money in a Metal Trunk Box weighing approximately
110kg. The consignment was abandoned because the Contents of the
consignment was not properly declared by the consignee as "MONEY" rather
it was declared as personal effect to avoid interrogation and also the
inability of the diplomat to pay for the United States Non Inspection
Charges which is $3,700USD. On my assumption the consignment is still left
in our Storage House here at the Harrisburg International Airport
Pennsylvania till date.

The details of the consignment including your name, your email address and
the official documents from the United Nations office in Geneva are tagged
on the Trunk box. However, to enable me confirm if you are the actual
recipient of this consignment as the assistant director of the Inspection
Unit, I will advise you provide your current Phone Number and Full
Address, to enable me cross check if it corresponds with the address on
the official documents including the name of nearest Airport around your
city. Please note that this consignment is supposed to have been returned
to the United States Treasury Department as unclaimed delivery due to the
delays in concluding the clearance processes so as a result of this, I
will not be able to receive your details on my official email account. So
in order words to enable me cross check your details, I will advise you
send the required details to my private email address for quick processing
and response.

Once I confirm you as the actual recipient of the trunk box, I can get
everything concluded within 48 hours upon your acceptance and proceed to
your address for delivery. Lastly, be informed that the reason I have
taken it upon myself to contact you personally about this abandoned
consignment is because I want us to transact this business and share the
money 70% for you and 30% for me since the consignment has not yet been
returned to the United States Treasury Department after being abandoned by
the diplomat so immediately the confirmation is made, I will go ahead and
pay for the United States Non Inspection Fee of $3,700 dollars and arrange
for the box to be delivered to your doorstep Or I can bring it by myself
to avoid any more trouble but you have to assure me of my 30% share.

I wait to hear from you urgently if you are still alive and I will
appreciate if we can keep this deal confidential. Please get back to me
via my private for further directives.

Thanks,

Charles J.Colocino JR

Interim Assistance General Manager,
(Operations,Maintenance,Transportation)
Harrisburg International Airport Pennsylvania
One Terminal Drive, Middletown.

Anti-fraud resources: