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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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.

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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:
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +2348023143387 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Winning Notification" <sami_bello6@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 04 Jul 2006 11:22:02 +0100
Subject: DR.Sami Bello

REGIONAL ANTI CORRUPTION DRIVE
AFRICAN UNITY (AU)
PAYMENT AND DELIVERY CENTER.
Mission House,
Aso Rock, Abuja.{FCT}
 
TEL:234-8023143387

Date: 03-07-2006

OurRef: DCU//2006
 
ATTN Friend:

In consonant with the message received from the leadership of (AU), whose contents well noted. I so sympathize with you for the long delay in your delivery. It was as a result of our experience and several reports and petitions from foreign contractors and next of kin claiming for the treasure boxes of decease persons like your humble self that made the Leaders African Union government to introduce this delivery through West Africa monetary Unit.
 
I was mandated to handle the office and deliver to contactors and beneficiary their treasure boxes to their nominated destination. The system of our operation is as follows:

1. The Presidency has given to me an authority as courier diplomat to deliver your fund and treasure boxes to your nominated destination.
 
2.You must be at the head quarters here in Abuja to sign off your treasure boxes and you will endorse some vital documents confirming that you have received your fund/ treasure boxes without any problems from me.
 
3.With the documents you are going to sign for me, I will write my report to the presidency and (AU) confirming that you have received your fund/ treasure boxes.

4.All that is required from you is your first and second pages photocopies of your International Passport for identification on arrival at the Airport.
 
5.You should reconfirm your particulars to enable me crosscheck with what I have here in my file. As soon as I receive all these required information, I will start processing the necessary documents concerning the delivery.
 
Lastly, we will require your maximum co-operation for a hitch free of your delivery. Looking forward to hearing from you as soon as possible. You may call me as soon as you receive this message, for more clarification.
 
Do all the best.
 
Regards
 
DR.Sami Bello

 

(DIRECTOR, DIPLOMATIC COURIER UNIT)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam