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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: "MRS SANDRA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrjohnw11000@vista.aero>
Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:01:22 -0700
Subject: United Parcel Service Nigeria LTD (UPS).....................CALL ME MR JOHN WILLIAMS FOR MORE INFO +

Hello, Compliment of the seasons my dear and how are you doing and your family? Hope you still remember me? I am Mr. John Smith, from Ohio (USA) who contacted you some times ago to assist me secure the release of some money accrued from the over invoicing of a contract/inheritance payment. It is with my pleasure to inform you that I have successfully secure the transfer of the money through the assistance of a new partner from Paraguay. Meanwhile, I didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring those funds, I appreciated your efforts at that time very much and so therefore I have made up my mind to compensate you with 10% of the total sum which is 800,000.00 United States Dollars Check, cashable at your local bank in your country. Presently I am in the Paraguay with my new partner and we are into some other investment project as you may already be aware. So therefore I have drop your International Certified Check with the UPS delivery department. You are advise only to fill the below details and forward it to the UPS delivery department so as to enable them deliver your Check to you safely. Full Name: .......................... Address: ............................. Phone Number: ....................... As soon as you fill the above text form, please send it to the UPS delivery department through their below contacts or by email. United Parcel Service Nigeria LTD (UPS) Plot 15, Oworonski Expressway Gbagada Industrial Estate Lagos.Nigeria. E-mail:mrjohnw11000@vista.aero Contact Name: Mr.John Williams At the moment, I am very busy here because of the investment projects which myself and my new partner are having at hand. Finally, I have forwarded instructions to the UPS delivery department on your behalf to send your International Certified Check of Eight Hundred Thousand United States Dollars to you as soon as you contact them without delay. I have already paid the UPS their courier charges to deliver your check to you, the only payment you will make to them is the Value Added Tax (VAT) fee which is $295 USD and it is mandatory by federal laws. Please I will like you to accept this token with good faith as this is from the bottom of my heart. YOU CAN MAKE THE PAYMENT VIA WESTERN UNION OR MONEYGRAM THIS IS THE PAYMENT INFORMATION OFFICE. RECIEVERS NAME------ DABO STEVEN SENDERS NAME------- YOUR NAME SENDERS COUNTRY----- YOUR ADDRESS RECIEVERS COUNTRY----Plot 15, Oworonski Expressway Gbagada Industrial Estate Lagos.Nigeria. TEXT QUESTION------------IN GOD TEXT ANSWER---------------.WE TRUST AMOUNT TO BE PAID---------$295 MTCN NUMBER...................... Please you have to send the full payment information including the MTCN Number for we to fully proceed on your delivery UPS is one of the world's great success stories, the start-up that Revolutionized the delivery of packages and information. In the past 30 Years, we've grown up and grown into a diverse family of companies -a UPS that's bigger, stronger, better than ever. WAITING TO READ YOUR E-MAIL. YOURS AFFECTIONATLY. MR JOHN SMITH

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