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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: "Mr. Key Jefferson" <schulter@rider.edu>
Date: Sat, 14 Jun 2008 18:49:41 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Greetings






Greetings: !=20

I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Confirmable Bank D=
raft of $900.000.00 United States Dollars, but I did not hear from=C2=A0 yo=
u since that time. Then I went and deposited the Draft with FEDEX COURIER S=
ERVICE,West Africa, I traveled out of the country for a 3 Months=C2=A0 Cour=
se and I will not come back till end of September.=20

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=C2=A0 o=
f the expiring date. For your information, I have paid for the delivering C=
harge,Insurance premium and Clearance Certificate Fee of the Cheque=C2=A0 s=
howing that it is not a Drug Money or meant to sponsor Terrorist attack in =
your Country.=20

The only money you will send to the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE to deliver your D=
raft direct to your postal Address in your country is ($245.00 US) 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 $245.00 USD.=20
=C2=A0=20
I would have paid that but they said no because they don't know when=C2=A0 =
you will contact them and in case of demurrage. You have to contact the FED=
EX COURIER SERVICE now for the delivery of your Draft with this information=
bellow;=20

Contact Person: Mr. Mark Paul=20
Email Address: fedexcouriernigeria_9@hotmail.com=20

Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address() and Direct tele=
phone number to them again to avoid any mistake on the Delivery and ask the=
m to give you the tracking number to enable you track your package over the=
re and know when it will get to your address.=20

Let me repeat again, try to contact them as soon as you receive this mail t=
o avoid any further delay and remember to pay them their Security=C2=A0 Kee=
ping fee of $245.00 US Dollars for their immediate action. You should also =
let me know through email as soon as you receive your Draft.=20

Yours Faithfully,=20
Mr. Key Jefferson

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