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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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  (+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
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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "clearance certificate" (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. )
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
  • "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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.
  • +2348060076224 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <fedex.deliveryagency@live.com>
Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2008 09:59:08 -0600
Subject: Claim Your Certified Bank Draft Of $500,000.00




Greetings To You


How are you today? I Hope all is well with you and your family? I hope this
mail meets you in a perfect condition.

I am using this opportunity to thank you for your great effort to our
unfinished transaction and delivery of your Online Internet Winning Bank
draft
of ($500.000.00) FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS to you which i
have
deposited with the Security Keeping Company.

I have travelled out of the country for a 3 Months Course and I will not
come
back till end of December.

For your information, I have paid for the delivering Charges, Insurance
premium
and Clearance Certificate Fee of the Cheque showing that it is not a Drug
Money
or meant to sponsor Terrorist attack in your Country except the Security
Keeping fee which will be paid by you.

The only money you will send to them as soon as you contact them to deliver
your Draft direct to your postal Address in your country is ($380 USD)
Dollars
only being Security Keeping Fee of the Courier Company so far.

I have to let you pay this yourself because i dont know when you will
contact
them and in case of demurrage.

Now contact Agent Frank Smith of the Courier Company for your international
certified Bank Draft and ask him to issue to you the information on how you
are
to pay the Courier Security Keeping fee for your Certified bank
Draft Cashable at your Bank or any Bank anywhere as your choice felt.

My Dear friend I will like you to contact Mr.Frank Smith for the collection
of
this international Certified Bank Draft.

His Name and contact address is as bellow:

NAME: Mr. Frank Smith
Email: fedex.deliveryagency@live.com
Tel: +23480 6007 6224.

Please send him the following details for further processing:
Finally, make sure that you reconfirm :

1. Full Name:
2. Full Address:
3. Occupation:
4. Age:
5. Sex:
6. Telephone Number:
7. Nationality:
8. Place of Residence:
9. Your draft registration number : EM 8707439

At the moment, I'm very busy here in the united kingdom because of the
investment projects which myself and my new partner are having at hand In
London,Finally Ask him to send you your Online Internet Winning Certified
Bank
Draft of $500,000.00 (FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS) which the
Internet Lotto Organisation raised in your favour to Compensate you for all
the
past efforts you have made in receiving your Funds/winnings in this matter.

Please I will like you to accept this token with Good Faith as this is your
Compensation Fund.

Hope to hear from you as soon as you receive your Compensation Fund and Let
me
repeat again, try to contact them as soon as you receive this mail to avoid
any
further delay and remember to pay them their Security Keeping fee of $380 US
Dollars for their immediate action.

To avoid any mistake on the Delivery,ask them to give you the tracking
number
of your Draft Package after payment to enable you track your package over
there
and know when it will get to your address.

Thanks, God bless you and your family.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Kate Williams
Former Director Presidential Library & Museum
International Online Lottery Co-ordinator.© 2008

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam