419 scam: "Mr. Kenneth Ridings"<gitlab@gozaimass.io> I need your quick reply

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "dear friend" (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)
- "million united state dollars" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "is 100% risk-free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- kennethridings320@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Kenneth Ridings" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kennethridings320@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2023 13:56:58 -0800
Subject: I need your quick reply

Dear Friend.

First and foremost, I am sorry for reaching out to you in such a medium. I am Mr. Kenneth Ridings by name. I work as a senior active officer in control at one of the most reliable and trusted couriers in the United States of America.

I am contacting you about your consignment box in transit to your location by an unidentified diplomat who couldn't complete the customs protocol. He couldn't provide the needful requirement to the U.S Customs and Law Enforcement. Luckily, I was at the airport to represent our company for large packages arriving for clearance. In the process, I accidentally encountered the diplomat. We both introduced ourselves as the senior officer in my company in charge of all items, baggage consignment boxes, other delivery belongings, etc. The unidentified diplomat contracted me to complete the formality with the U.S Customs and Law Enforcement for safety to avoid swindling and get the consignment box deposited in our safe storage warehouse. Ever since I have not heard any news or if someone applied to release the consignment box.

My primary purpose for reaching out to you. I have been instructed by our company C.E.O. to search metal consignment boxes to make sure I reach out to the unidentified diplomat or any of his relatives in the process, I even invite a private investigator to search for the diplomat or any of his relatives, but I was unlucky, and for my safety and the company's safety, I decided to conduct an X-ray scan to know the actual content, but to my surprise, the report revealed an undisclosed sum of money approximately $13.9 Million United state Dollars. But the consignee did not properly declare the Contents of the metal consignment box as “MONEY” rather it was declared as a personal effect to avoid interrogation from the U.S Customs and Law Enforcement. I have been trying to reach out to the diplomat for months. Luckily, I found your email address on a label attached to the metal consignment box. I sent an email to the email address to know if it is valid, and it went; I hope you get this me
ssage in good faith.

Furthermore, As the Senior officer assigned to search for the diplomat or the diplomat relative of the metal consignment box. I want both of us to transact this as a deal 70% for you and 30% for me. All I want is your trust as the arrangement for the box to be delivered to you safely, which can be concluded within 2-3 or 4 to 5 working days after confirmation is made and upon your acceptance and willingness to cooperate. And I promise you that you won't regret doing this transaction with me because it is 100% risk-free and free from any branch of law.

I await your swift response to enable me to furnish more information to you for the way forward.

Thank you, And remain blessed.

Best Regards
Mr. Kenneth Ridings
kennethridings320@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam