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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: "Mr Mcdonald Hook" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <unitedcourier001@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 22:30:57 -0800
Subject: YOUR INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT CHEQUE $750,000.00

YOUR INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT CHEQUE $750,000.00
CONTACT INFORMATION:
UNITED COURIER SERVICE
Contact Person: Mr.Samuel Brown
Email: unitedcourier001@yahoo.co.jp
Tell: +2348099199535

Attention: Beneficiary,

I pray this mail gets to you in a perfect health condition. My Name is Mr.
McDonald Hook General Secretary Compensation Award House.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 with the following information.

Your Full Name:.........................
Your Mailing Address:................
Your Telephone Number:......................
Your City:.........................................
Your State:.........................................
Your Country:.........................................

and ask them for there payment information so that you can send them there
$85.00usd for the SECURITY KEEPING FEE.

Contact information bellow:
UNITED COURIER SERVICE
Contact Person: Mr.Samuel Brown
Email: unitedcourier001@yahoo.co.jp
Tell: +2348099199535

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.

Yours Faithfully,
Mr. McDonald Hook
Compensation Award House
NOTE: ENDEAVOR TO CONTACT HIM WITH YOUR CURRENT DELIVERY ADDRESS TO AVOID
WRONG DELIVERY...

Anti-fraud resources: