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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: "UNITED COURIER SERVICES" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <unitedse@blumail.org>
Date: Sat, 10 Apr 2010 04:04:23 -0700
Subject: GOOD DAY

GOOD DAY.

I AM SORRY TO ENCROACH INTO YOUR PRIVACY THROUGH THIS MANNER, WE HAVE A INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT CHEQUE OF $750,000.00 UNITED STATES DOLLARS IN OUR CUSTODY THAT BELONGS TO YOU. THIS CHEQUE WAS BROUGHT TO OUR COMPANY ( UNITED COURIER SERVICES ) BY A GREAT DIPLOMAT NAME MR.MCDONALD HOOK,WHO GAVE US A PACKAGED CHEQUE AND YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS TO CONTACT YOU ON THE DELIVERY.

HE HAS PAID FOR THE DELIVERY CHARGE,INSURANCE PREMIUM AND CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE FEE. THE ONLY MONEY YOU ARE TO PAY TO US IS OUR SECURITY KEEP FEE OF THE COURIER SERVICES WHICH IS ($85.00USD). IMMEDIATELY YOU CONTACT US WE WILL SEND YOU OUR PAYMENT DETAILS SO THAT YOU CAN SEND DOWN THE $85.00USD, SO CONTACT US FAST BECAUSE OF THE EXPIRING DATE AND SO WE CAN COMMENCE DELIVERY OF YOUR PACKAGE TO YOUR RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS IN YOUR COUNTRY.

YOU ARE ADVICE TO SEND US THE FOLLOWING.

NAME:
ADDRESS:
CONTACT PHONE NUMBER:
OCCUPATION:
CITY:
COUNTRY:

WE AWIT YOUR RESPANSE SOONEST

UNITED COURIER SERVICES
E-MAIL : unitedse@blumail.org

I WAIT ANXIOUSLY FOR A SWIFT RESPONSE

MR. SAMUEL BROWN
DISPATCH DIRECTOR
TEL: +234-8056259918

Anti-fraud resources: