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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:
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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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 company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • expressfedex68@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "luke john" <johnluke1@student.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Jun 2008 10:09:28 +0200
Subject: CONTACT FEDEX DELIVERING COMPANY


Dear Friend, Greetings!

I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Confirmable Bank
Draft of $900,000,00, United States Dollars, but I did not hear from you
since that time.

Then I went ahead and deposited the Draft with FEDEX COURIER COMPANY,
Cotonou, Benin Republic before I travelled out of the country for a 3 Months
Course .What you have to do now is to contact the FEDEX COURIER COMPANY 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 Fee of the draft, 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 Courier & Security Company to deliver
your Draft direct to your postal Address in your country is ($195.00 US) One
hundred and Ninty five United States Dollars only being Security Keeping Fee
of the Courier Company so far. Again, don't be deceived by anybody, whom
might contact you stated you check is with them except Fedex Courier Express

Company.

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 COMPANY now for the delivery of your Draft with this information
bellow;

Contact Person:Dr,Dowling Johnson
Telephone: 229-93-69-77-87
Email Address: expressfedex68@yahoo.fr

Finally, make sure that you reconfirm the following infomation to them
1.YOUR FULL NAME__________________________
2
YOUR HOME ADDRESS_________________________
3.YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER________
4.YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE_____________
5
A COPY OF YOUR
PICTURE___________________
6.COMPANY REGISTRATION NO__________________4152HGMEXW
7.CODE NUMBER__________________________KMCD/BOWL/04152

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 $195.00 US Dollars for their immediate action.Do let ME know immediately
you recieves your package.

Yours Faithfully
MrJohnluke

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam