419 scam: Mr.W.Stuart Symington UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA,

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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:
- "service fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned 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: Mr.W.Stuart Symington
Reply-To: <ssymingtonmrwilliams@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 23 Sep 2023 03:59:51 -0700
Subject: UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA,

Âíèìàíèå! Ýòî ýëåêòðîíîå ïèñüìî áûëî ïîëó÷åíî èç âíåøíåãî èñòî÷íèêà - ïîæàëóéñòà, íå îòêðûâàéòå íåèçâåñòíûå Âàì âëîæåíèÿ è íå ïåðåõîäèòå ïî íåçíàêîìûì Âàì ññûëêàì

This is Mr.W.Stuart Symington, the Former United States Ambassador to Federal
Republic of Nigeria, I came down here in Abuja federal Republic of
Nigeria for an ECOWAS meeting and I was searching for some files that I
left in this office before I left and found out that you have not
received your fund, and I asked the present ambassador Mrs.Mary Beth Leonard
what happened that you have not receive your fund since.

I'm contacting you because the director of the ATM CARD center here in
Nigeria said that they will divert your ATM CARD to the Government
Treasury just because that you cannot pay for the service fee of your
ATM CARD which is $150 only according to them. But I told them to wait
until I hear from you today so that I will know the reason why you
rejected such amount of money $15,500000 (fifteen millions five hundred thousand) usd which will change your life just
because of $150

I want your urgent response as soon as you receive this text and explain
to me the reason why you have abandon your ATM CARD because of $150, But
if you don't need it then I can change your name to another person so
that this Government will not claim this money but I know that you will
love to have it. Please my dear I want to help you to receive this fund
because it was a big shock to me that you have not receive your ATM CARD
and withdraw your money since 2 years now and I'm very sorry for that
and you will receive your fund before the end of this meeting which will
take us 2 days and I will be here to monitor it until you receive your
fund.
you are to reconfirm your full information to me
Name...............
Tel/cell number....
Address
Country...........
occupation...

BEST REGARDS,

Mr.W.Stuart Symington

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam