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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: John sokou <john.sokou@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 9 Feb 2010 03:25:33 -0800 (PST)
Subject: CONTACT SKYLINE COURRIER SERVICE NOW


Hello My Dear
 
I have been waiting for you since then to come down here and pick your outstanding payment left but I did not hear from you since that time as we fixed. Then I went and deposited the $2,500,000.00 (Two million, five hundred thousand US Dollars Only). I lodged the funds inside a  box as Consignment with SKYLINE COURRIER SERVICE in Benin Republic because I traveled to China to visit my friend for the Company's Board meeting. I will not come back till next month end. Please note that I did not disclose to the Courier that the content of the Consignment box is cash money, instead I registered the consignment as containing some pieces of Art work, this was for security reason and to ensure that the Consigned fund reached you safely.
 
I want You to contact the SKYLINE COURRIER SERVICE to know when they will deliver your package(fund).I have paid for the delivering charges except the security keeping fee which they said it can only be paid when the Deposits is ready for shipment to the Receiver.
 
Therefore, The only money you have to send to them is the security keeping fee which is US$165.00 to receive your package at your nominated address. So be advised to contact the Courier Director through this below details and reconfirm to him the information and address where to send the Package to you.
 
NAME: SKYLINE COURRIER SERVICE
DESPATCH MANAGER: MR RUEBEN NEWTON
POSITION:  FOREIGN DELIVERY DEPARTMENT.
ADDRESS: COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
E-MAIL:  skylinecourrier@mail.md   /   skylinecourrier@netcourrier.com
 
Try to contact them as soon as possible to avoid increasing the Security Keeping fee. I Would have given them the address but I later thought you have to reconfirm it to them again to avoid any mistake on the delivery and to be sure the fund is delivered to the nominated address of your Choice.
 
Reconfirm below information to the company.
 
Your Full Name:-----------------------
Your Home Address:--------------------
Your Telephone(s):------------------
Occupation-------------------------------
Your Country:-------------------------
 
Let me know as soon as you received the consignment(fund) so that I will be sure you received the FUND  [$2,500,000.00]
Best Wishes,
John Sokou
 
 

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