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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• 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. )
  • "certified bank draft" (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.
  • mrthardy@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Sharon Conrad" <bullguard04@mailbox.hu>
Reply-To: mrthardy@myway.com
Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 09:44:02 +0100
Subject: Confirm As You Receive,Urgent Reply.


Greetings!!!

I have been waiting for you to contact me for your Bank Draft worth
US$850,000.00 United States Dollars (Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand United
States Dollars), issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance but I did not
hear
from you all this while.

I have deposited the Draft with BULLGUARD SECURITY SERVICE (BSS), West
Africa.
I traveled out of the country for a 3 Months Course and I will not be back
until completion of my 3 months course. What you have to do now is to
contact
the BULLGUARD SECURITY SERVICE immediately to know when they will deliver
your
package to you because of the expiring date.

For your information, I have paid for the delivery Charge, Insurance premium
and Clearance Certificate Fee of the Draft showing that it is not a Drug
Money
or meant to sponsor Terrorism attack in your Country. Again, don't be
deceived
by anybody to pay any money for the shipment of your certified Bank Draft.

To avoid demurrage charge, you have to contact the BULLGUARD SECURITY
SERVICE
now for the delivery of your Bank Draft with this information below:

Contact Agent: Thomas Hardy
Email Address: mrthardy@myway.com
Telephone: +234-1-220-8164

Reconfirm the below information to the agent:

1. Full Names:
2. Residential Address:
3. Direct Phone Number:
4. Occupation
5. Sex

Request for the tracking number of the package to enable you track and know
when it will get to your address. Let me repeat again, try to contact them
immediately you receive this mail to avoid any delay and immediate delivery.

You should also let me know through email as soon as you receive your Bank
Draft.

Yours Faithfully,

Mrs. Sharon Conrad.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam