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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. James Kells." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.thomasmartins-fedexpost@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 5 Sep 2010 22:35:54 +0100
Subject: Contact FedEx

Greetings!
 
 
 
I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Confirmable  Bank Draft of $700.000.00 United States Dollars, but I did not hear from you since that time. Then I went and deposited the Draft with FedEx Delivery Service, West Africa, I travelled out of the country for a 3 Months Course and I will not come back till end of December. What you have to do now is to contact the FedEx Delivery Service 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 delivering Charge, Insurance  premium and Clearance Certificate Fee of the Cheque showing that it is not a  Drug Money or meant to sponsor Terrorist attack in your Country.
 
 
 
 
 
The only money you will send to the FedEx Delivery Service to deliver  your Draft direct to your postal Address in your country is ($100 USD) only being Security Keeping Fee of the Courier Company so far.  Again, don't be
deceived by anybody to pay any other money except  $100 US Dollars. 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 FedEx Delivery Service now for the delivery of your Draft with this  information below;
 
 
 
FedEx Delivery Service.
Contact Person: Mr.Thomas Martins
Email Address: mr.thomasmartinsfedexpost@hotmail.com
 
 
 
Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address ( ) and Direct telephone number to them again to avoid any mistake on the Delivery 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 $100 US Dollars for their immediate action.
 
 
 
You should also let me know through email as soon as you receive your  Draft.
 
 
 
Yours Faithfully,
Mr. James Kells.

Anti-fraud resources: