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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: MR WELL PAULSON <ukwinnings_agentclaims@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 12 May 2007 20:36:18 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Contact The Courier Company For Winnings.


The National Lottery
P O Box 1010
Liverpool, L70 1NL
UNITED KINGDOM
(Customer Services)
Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369

ATTENTION: Hubert Schaefmacher,

CONGRATULATIONS! This is to inform you that you have been cleared a winner of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY International program. I am happy to inform you that I have forwarded your Original Certificate and your certified bank cheque to the courier company. Find below the details of the courier company.

OMNI FREIGHT EXPRESS COURIER
ADDRESS: Building 219 Epsom Square Hounslow,
Middlesex TW6 2DG.
Mr. Alex Butt (dispatch officer)
Management
OMNI FREIGHT EXPRESS COURIER
Email: omniexpresscouriers@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: +44-703-194-2003
Fax: +44-709-288-9285

You are advised to send the Courier Company a mail to their email address for their Courier Cost of delivering your winning prize to the payment centre. When contacting them, you are to include this order number as your subject. Please you are advised to write down the order number and save it. ORDER NUMBER: SH231282

Note: you are to Quote your complete Names, Ref/Batch Numbers, your direct phone number and Home address so that they can honor your letter also do keep me updated with your communications with the Courier Company.

Once again I say congratulations and always inform me with your dealings with the courier company.

Regards,
Mr. Well Paulson
Overseas Claims Unit

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