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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.

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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. )
  • "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.
  • +2348073201239 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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_delivery2008@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "FEDEX COURIER" <FEDEXCOURIER@hamdard.net.pk>
Reply-To: f_delivery2008@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:34:26 +0500
Subject: Greetings,


Greetings,



I am Mr Mark Williams, a staff of the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE here in
west Africa.We have been waiting for you since to contact us for your
Confirmable Bank Draft of $800.000.00 United States Dollars that was
deposited with our company by The World Philanthropists Organisation
for your own educational,personal and charity development in your
community , but we did not hear from you since that time.I will be
traveling out from the country for two Months Course and I will not
come back till end of JULY

What you have to do now is to contact the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE as soon
aspossible to know when they will deliver your package to you because
of the expiring date. For your information, 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 has already been paid for.The only money you
will send to the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE to deliver your Draft direct to
your postal Address in your country is ($500.00 USD) only being
Security Keeping Fee of the Courier Company so far.Again, don't be
deceived by anybody to pay any other money except ($500.00 USD). You
have to contact the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE now for the delivery of your
Draft with this
information bellow;

Contact Person: Mr. Alan Hart.
Email Address:f_delivery2008@yahoo.com.hk
Tel phone +2348073201239

Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address and Direct
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 of extra demurrage and remember to pay them
their Security Keeping fee of ($500.00 USD) for their immediate
action.You should also let me know through email as Soon as you receive
your Draft.



Yours Faithfully,
Mr Mark Williams.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam