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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:52:53 +0100
Subject: CONTACT APEX COURIER COMPANY FOR YOUR BANK DRAFT!!!


Dear Friend,
I did not hear from you since for your Confirmable Bank Draft of
$800,000 USD,which i kept for I went and deposited it with APEX
EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY,
so contact them.
Contact person Eric James
PHONE: +229 930-93861
E-mail: (apex_courier@hotmail.fr)

Registration Reference No; wwdsc/xxx/100
Code Number:xxxdcsc/6545

I paid for the delivering Charges except their Security Keeping Fee of
$98 USD which they said no because they don't know when you will
contact them in case of demurrage. So you are to pay the $98 as soon
as you contact them.Note the APEX COMPANY didnot know what is inside
the package because i registered it as my (pix) being sent to a friend
overseas.They do not know that it contains a bank draft of such amount
of money.This is to avoid them tempering with the package.Do not let
them know the contents.I am waiting to hear the good news from you.

Regards,
STANLEY CHYNOO.

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