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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: "MRS.Elizabeth Gate" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <talktofredowen@yahoo.cn>
Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2011 12:40:56 +0200
Subject: Greetings!

--
Greetings!
I have been waiting for you to contact me for your Confirmable Bank Draft
of $350.000.00 United States Dollars, but I did not hear from you since
that time. Then I went and deposited the Draft with FEDEX COURIER SERVICE,
West Africa, I travelled out of the country for a 3 Months Course and I
will not come back till end of May. What you have to do now is to
contact the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE as soon as possible to know when they
will deliver your package to you because of the expiring date.
For your information, I have paid for the delivering Charge, 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.
Contact Person:Mr Fred Owen
Email Address:talktofredowen@yahoo.cn
Telephone: 009 234 802 387 1942 
The only money you will send to the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE to deliver your
Draft direct to your postal Address in your country is ($190.00 US) Dollars
only being Security Keeping Fee of the Courier Company so far. Again, don't
be deceived by anybody to pay any other money except $190.00US Dollars. I
would have paid that but they said no because they don't know when you will
contact them and in case of demurrage.
You are to make the payment to the information below by western union or
money gram.
Receiver Name: Mr Osas Henry
Receiver Address: #10 Old Obasanjo Road Lagos, Nigeria.
Once you forward the necessary details to the Representative Mr Fred Owen
and once your payment is been confirmed by them they will
issued your Tracking Number.
Sender's Name:......................... ..................
Sender's Address:...................... ....................
Amount To be Sent:$190
Text Question to be used: WHO CAN HELP US?
Text Answer: OUR LORD ONLY.
Money Transfer Control Number (M.T.C.N).
Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address() and Direct
telephone number to them again to avoid any mistake on the Delivery and ask
them to give you the tracking number to enable you track your package over
there and know when it will get to your address. 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 $190.00 US Dollars
for their immediate action. You should also let me know through email as
soon as you receive your Draft.
Yours Faithfully,
MRS.Elizabeth Gate
 

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