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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.

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. )
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "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.
  • +2347031118739

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Desmond Bruce" <agfc@netmadeira.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:58:35 GMT
Subject: GET INTOUCH WITH THE UNITED DIPLOMATIC COURIER DELIVERY WITH THE BELOW INFORMATION



GET INTOUCH WITH THE UNITED DIPLOMATIC COURIER DELIVERY WITH
THE BELOW INFORMATION

Greetings To You My Dear Friend!!!

I have been waiting for you to contact me for your
Confirmable Bank Draft of $750,000.00 United States Dollars,
but I did not hear from you since that time.

Then I went and deposited the Draft with UNITED COURIER
COMPANY, West Africa , I traveled out of the country for an
8 Months Course and I will not come back till end of this
year.

What you have to do now is to contact the UNITED 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 delivery Charge,
Insurance Premium and Clearance Certificate Fee. The only
money you will send to the UNITED COURIER COMPANY to deliver
your Draft direct to your postal Address in your country is
($85.00USD) 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 $85.00USDollars.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 UNITED COURIER COMPANY now for the
delivery of your Draft give to them your cell-phone number
mailing address (where the cheque will be delivered) and ask
them for there payment information so that you can send them
there $85.00usd for the delivery do not forget the Company
do not delivery on COD mode so have that in mind.

Contact information bellow:
Contact Person: Mr. Samuel Brown
Email Address: unitedcourierservice@live.com
Telephone: +234-703 111 8739.
Call them for more information’s

Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your delivery address
and Direct Telephone numbers 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 $85.00 US Dollars for
their immediate action.

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

Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Desmond Bruce

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam