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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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:
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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.
  • f_exp_couriercompany@myway.com

Fraud email example:

From: officefile@freenet.de
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:33:26 +0100
Subject: CONTACT FEDEX COURIER COMPANY FOR YOUR DELIVERY


Hello Dear,

I have Paid the fee for your Cheque Draft.but the manager
of Central Bank of West Africa told me that before the check will get to
you that it will expire. So i told him to cash $850,000.00 all the
necessary arrangement of delivering the $850,000.00 in cash was made
with FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY This in the information they need to
delivery your package to you.The only money you will send to the Courier
Company to deliver your Consignment direct to your postal Address in
your country is ($105.00 US) One Hundred & Five United States 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 $105.00 US
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.
Dr.Willie
Devis
EMAIL:(f_exp_couriercompany@myway.com)
Tel:+22993869984.
Please,
Send them your contacts information to able them locate you
immediately
they arrived in yourcountry with your BOX .This is what they need from
you.
1.YOUR FULL NAME
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS.
3.YOUR CURRENT HOME
TELEPHONE NUMBER.
4.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE
I am waiting for your
urgent response.
Yours Faithfully
Dr.mark marion

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam