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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.

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)
  • "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. )
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "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. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • infojacksoncouriercompany1973@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: chrissmbah02@freenet.de
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:40:59 +0100
Subject: CONTACT JACKSON COURIER COMPANY FOR YOUR BANK DRAFT


Dear Friend,
Greetings!
I have been waiting for you since to contact me
for your Confirmable Bank Draft of $850.000.00 United States Dollars,
but I did not hear from you since that time. Then I went and deposited
the Draft with Jackson Express Courier Company, Cotonou Benin Republic
before I travelled out of the country for a 3 Months Course and I will
not come back till end of DECEMBER.What you have to do now is to contact
Jackson Express Courier Company 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.
The
only money you will send to the Jackson Express Courier Company to
deliver your Draft direct to your postal Address in your country is
($105.00US)One Hundred & Five United States Dollars only being Security
Keeping Fee of the Courier Company so far.
Again, you dont have any
time left to delay contact Jackson Express Courier Company immediately
you receive this mail this is to avoid you loosing your package,I would
have paid the $105.00US Dollars. but they said no because they don\'t
know
when you will contact them and in case of demurrage.
You have to
contact the Jackson Express Courier Company now for the delivery of your
Draft with this information bellow;
Contact Person: DR FRANK DON
Email
Address: infojacksoncouriercompany1973@yahoo.fr
Finally, make sure that
you reconfirm your Postal address and Direct telephone number to them
again to avoid any mistake on the Delivery 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 $105.00 US Dollars for their
immediate action.You should also let me know through email as soon as
you receive your Draft.Yours Faithfully,

Mr. James Williams.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam