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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: "FEDEX" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <fedex.baltimore@gazeta.pl>
Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2010 21:52:08 +0100
Subject: YOU HAVE A PACKAGE WITH FEDEX

Fedex Courier Express
8510 Barbara Ave
Inver Grove Heights,
Mn 55076
USA
Tel: 917 595 3112

Dear Friend,

This is to inform you that there is a parcel containing a Bank draft of 900,000 USD in your name.

My name is Christopher James, Delivery manager FedEx Office in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. I have been waiting for you since to come down here to pick your Bank Draft but never heard from you. Well, be informed that your parcel has been here for the past one month from a Compensation and Finance House in Nigeria but your address is incorrect and hence we could not reach you to deliver the package so it has remained here in our office.We hereby await your current address.

Now to enable us effect the delivery of your parcel containing the bank draft, you are hereby require to forward your contact information as stated below.

(1) FULL NAME.................
(2) ADDRESS...................
(3) COUNTRY...................
(4) PRIVATE TEL...............

Note also that upon the receipt of your contact information above, we will proceed with the delivery of your parcel to you after conditions are met and also you sending to us your valid delivery address as true owner of package.

Contact me at our delivery department immediately with your contact information and I will update you on how soon we will deliver your parcel.

Here is my contact details:

Contact: Christopher James
Address: Fedex Courier Express
8510 Barbara Ave
Inver Grove Heights,
Mn 55076
USA
Email: fedex.baltimore@gazeta.pl
Phone: 917 595 3112

Expecting your response and your contact confirmation soon and to the above office.

Please note that you have to call me before or after sending me an email.

Yours sincerely,
Christopher James.

Anti-fraud resources: