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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "demurrage 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 ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "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)
  • "trunk box" (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)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2347082085308
• 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.
  • fedex_deliverservicese01@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Sharon Conrad Conrad" <mrsshrncnrdconrad0@googlemail.com>
Reply-To: fedex_deliverservicese01@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 02:58:39 -0700
Subject: Recieve From Fedex Courier Services.


FROM THE DESK OF FEDEX CUSTOMERS SERVICES
Office Address,Plot 5,Okoi Way,Victoria Island,Lagos Nigeria.
EMAIL ADDRESS. fedex_deliverservicese01@yahoo.com
DIRECT CONTACT PHONE NUMBER,+234-70-8208-5308,+234-017627780.

Attention! Customer

This is the Fedex Courier Services mailing you in respect of your
Consignment Package (Trunk Box) which after careful scrutiny contains the
sum of $1,650,000.00 (One Million, Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand United
States Dollars) that the Federal Ministry of Finance and
Revenue's Board brought to this Company to be delivered to you and before
protocol commenced we had a dispute with the Insurance Firm about the
Insurance Policy on the consignment which was later settled.

We are happy to inform you that your Consignment Package is among the 24
packages listed for immediate dispatch which is now in our office and also
with your name as
the receiver despite that we lost your residential address and we request
that you re-confirm it with our office for safe delivery of your consignment
without hesitation.

We would also like you to know that you would be taking care of the Delivery
Charge of $225. The only fee paid by the Ministry Board was the Demurrage
fee.Send the following details highlighted below for reconfirmation:

1. FULL NAME
2. DELIVERY ADDRESS
3. PHONE NUMBER

The above informations should be sent to:

Name: Thomas Hardy
Status: Regional Dispatch Manager
Email Address: fedex_deliverservicese01@yahoo.com
Phone Number: +234-70-820-85308,+234-017627780.

Yours Truly,

Mrs. Sharon Conrad
FedEx Managing Director

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam