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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 Parcel Service Freight (UPS).." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <uunitedparcelservice01@yahoo.dk>
Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2015 22:04:23 -0800
Subject: United Parcel Service Freight (UPS)..Resend

United Parcel Service
1000 Semmes Avenue
P.O. Box 1216
Richmond, VA 23218-1216
Dear customer,
We officially wish to anounce to you that yur package has been released for delivery which shall be deliver to you within the next two working days from today, so therefore you are to urgently send your package Agency Clearing Review fee of $70 to Nigeria as your package originated country with the information stated below through western union OR Money Gram.
Name: Nwanna Patience
Address: Lagos-Nigeria
Question: Urgent
Answer: Need
Amount: $70
However here is your package tracking number: 1Z10Y9E80494756498 you are to log on through our official website www.ups.com for your tracking review and better clearification.
Please note that you have just today Friday and tomorrow Saturday to effect the payment as to enable us complete the delivery before the next week.
Also note that you are to provide us the payment confirmation details/attached receipt of the payment as soon as it been sent for our own records.
Best Regards
Miss. Dixon Williams
Dispatching Officer.

Anti-fraud resources: