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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: "DELIVERY OFFICE OF FEDEX" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <fdx.deliverymaster@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Jun 2013 08:37:47 -0600
Subject: VERY VERY URGENT...please respond now.

 
 
Attn: Beneficiary
 
With  the  recent   instruction  from  united  nations  office  on  your  delivery   payment  ATM   Package   payment  Inheritance  fund worth US$10,000,000.00  (TEN MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS).
 
now  for  attachment  to  your  file  kindly  issue  to  us  your  full  information  to  enable  us  deliver  at  a  proper  time  without  delay.
 
(1)  your  full  name: .......................
(2)  your  complete  house  address:..........
(3)  telephone  number:.......................
(4)  sex:.....................................
(5)  state  of  origin:.......................
(6)  your  personal  identity  if  possible:...
 
With  this  useful  information  we  can  be  sure  that  when  your  package  arrives  we can  deliver  without  further  problems.
 
Sincerely,
 
Phone: +1 9183098710
FedEx   office   New York
Email : fdx.deliverymaster@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources: