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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: Office File <offfiles@belleasts.net>
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:46:27 -0800 (PST)
Subject: CONTACT Z' COURIER FOR YOUR PACKAGE


CONTACT Z' COURIER FOR YOUR PACKAGE
 
Attn: My Dear,
 
I have paid the fee for your Check Draft. Because the manager of Eko Bank Benin told me that before the check will get to you that it will expire. So I told him to cash $1,500,000.00, all the necessary arrangement of delivering the $$1,500,000.00 in cash was made with Z' DIPLOMATIC COURIER DELIVERY COMPANY SERVICE.
 
 This is the information of the contact person of Diplomatic Courier Company.
 
Name:  JONATHAN FREDRICK MARK
EMAIL:  urgentmatters@mail.ru
 
Please, Send them your contacts information to enable them locate you immediately they arrived in your country with your BOX .This is what they need from you, you have to reconfirm delivery information to them again to avoid any mistake on the delivering.
 
Reconfirm below information to the company.
Your Full Name -----------------------
Your Address ---------------------------
Home telephone ---------------------
Office telephone (if any) ---------------------
 
Let me know immediately you receive your package and check the contents whether the complete of the total $$1.5 Million USD
 
Please make sure you send this needed info to the Director General of Diplomatic Courier Delivery Company Service, “JONATHAN FREDRICK MARK” with the address given to you.
 
Note that I registered it as Box of Photographic Material. The diplomat Agent don't know that it contains money, this is to avoid them delaying with the Box, don't let the Diplomat Agent know that it is money that is in that Box.
 
I am waiting for your urgent response. 
 
Thanks and Remain Blessed.
 
Pat Urban

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