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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: "FedEX Courier " <fedexcourierdelivery@hamdard.net.pk>
Reply-To: fedex_courier_express@live.com
Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 14:31:34 +0500
Subject: URGENT MESSAGE FROM THE FEDEX COURIER!!!


Greetings!

I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Confirmable
Bank Draft of $800,000.00 United States Dollars, but I did not hear
from you since that time. Then I went and deposited the Draft with
FedEx Courier Service, West Africa, I travelled out of the country for
a three Months Course and I will not come back till end of May.

What you have to do now is to contact the FedEx Courier Service 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
Fees 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 FedEx Courier Service to deliver
your Draft direct to your postal Address in your country is
($165.00US) 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 $165.00 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.You have to contact the FedEx Courier Service now for the
delivery of your Draft with this information bellow;

Contact Person: Mr.Fred Michael
Email:fedex_courier_express@live.com
Tell: +2347039079706

Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your name, address, occupation
and telephone number to them again to avoid any mistake on the
Delivery and ask them to give you the tracking number to enable you
track your package over there and know when it will get to your
address. Let me repeat again, 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 $165.00US Dollars for their immediate
action. You should also let me know through email as soon as you
receive your Draft.

Yours Faithfully,

Mr.Larry Watson.Jr


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