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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: "Rev Jim Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bargregthompson@googlemail.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2012 23:13:31 +0300
Subject: Delivery Of Your Funds

Attn;
I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Confirmable Bank Draft of (5,000,000.00) United States Dollars, but I did not hear from you since that time, Then I went and deposited the Draft with WORLD COURIER --in Turkey  before I traveled out of the country for a short Course and I will not come back till next year. What you have to do now is to contact the WORLD COURIER EXPRESS Company 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 the delivery and Insurance fees. The only money you will send to the WORLD COURIER EXPRESS Company to deliver your package direct to your postal Address in your country is ($150) only being their Security Keeping Fee of the Courier Company so far.
Again, don't be deceived by anybody to pay any other money except $150, 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 WORLD COURIER EXPRESS Company now for the delivery of your package with this information bellow.
Name :Mr David White
Email Address: david.wh71@yahoo.com
Parcel Code: Eg2272
 
Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address and Direct telephone number to them again to avoid any mistake on the Delivery and Let me repeat once more, 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 $150 for their immediate action. You should also let me know through email as soon as you receive your package. Note. The WORLD COURIER EXPRESS Company doesn't know the contents of the Box. I registered it as a Box of a Turkish cloth.
They don't know that it contains money. This is to avoid them delaying with the Box. Don't let them know what it contains. I am waiting for your urgent response. Please go ahead now and contact them immediately with information above.
Yours Faithfully,
Rev Jim Williams

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