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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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.

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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:
  • "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. )
  • "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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 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.
  • +2347039079706

Fraud email example:

From: "FedEX Courier " <fedexcourierdelivery@hamdard.net.pk>
Reply-To: fedex_courier_express@live.com
Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 11:39:03 +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

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam