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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
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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.

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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)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?q?Chris=20Agwu?= <chrisagwu44@yahoo.com.co>
Reply-To: fedex_office_delivery@rocketmail.com
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2009 03:17:06 -0800 (PST)
Subject: YOUR URGENT REPORT


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a:chrisagwu44@yahoo.com.co



- MY DEAR FRIEND, I DID NOT HEAR FROM YOU SINCE FOR YOUR CONFORMABLE CHEQUE OF $1.5 MILLION USD WHICH I KEPT FOR YOU I WENT AND DEPOSITED IT WITH FEDEX EXPRESS,SO CONTACT THEM. P.R.O: MR KENNY DAVIS DIRECTOR OF FEDEX COURIER DELIVERY COMPANY NOTE I HAVE PAID FOR THE DELIVERING CHARGES EXCEPT THEIR SECURITY KEEPING FEE,IT IS THE ONLY MONEY WHICH YOU WILL SEND TO THE FEDEX COURIER COMPANY OFFICE TO DELIVER YOUR DRAFT CHEQUE DIRECTLY TO YOUR GIVEN ADDRESS IN YOUR COUNTRY THE FEE IS ONLY FOR YOURINFORMATION($150.00 USD.) THOUGH I WOULD HAVE PAY IT BUT DUE TO I DO NOT KNOW WHEN YOU WILL CONTACT THEM BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THE, THEY MADE IT CLEAR TO ME THAT AFTER TWO WEEKS FROM THE DAY THIS CHEQUE WAS DEPOSITED TO THEIR COMPANY IT WILL BE ACCUMULATING DEMURAGGES,SO, DO SEND TO THEM YOUR PERSONAL CONTACT. 1,FULL NAME..2,DELIVERY ADDRESS........3,PHONE NUMBER........... 4,AGE & SEX:. 5,OCCUPATION...6,CODE..333 SEND THE CODE NUMBER TO THEM, TO ENABLE THEM KNOW YOUR PACKAGE, THAT CODE IS IN YOUR PACKAGE.REGARDS, CHRIS AGWU

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam