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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: "michealbay" <michealbay@terra.com.mx>
Date: Sat, 1 Jul 2006 18:38:58 -0600
Subject: URGENT





EXPRESS DIPLOMATIC COURIER SERVICES LTD







WE COVER THE GLOBE ON DIPLOMATIC SERVICE MATTERS

ATTN:,
WE HAVE CROSSCHECK YOUR INFORMATION IN OUR FILE WE ARE FULLY SATISFIED THAT YOU ARE THE RIGHTFUL OWNER OF THE CONSIGNMENT HERE IN OUR CUSTODY, WE WILL COMMENCE ACTION IMMEDIATELY TO DISPATCH YOUR CONSIGNMENT.
ALL WE REQUIRE FROM YOU NOW IS THE DELIVERING CHARGE, THE COST IS $1,550 US DOLLARS AND ONCE THE DELIVERY CHARGE IS PAID YOUR CONSIGNMENT WILL BE DELIVERED TO YOUR ADDRESS WITHIN 48 HOURS.
MAKE ARRANGEMENT TO SEND THE MONEY THROUGH WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER TO OUR CASHIER.
BELOW IS HIS INFORMATIONS:
NAME:..........................ADEOLU OLATEJU.
ADDRESS:....... ............LAGOS NIGERIA.
TEST QUESTION:......WHAT IS OUR COLOR?
TEST ANSWER: .........BLUE.
AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE THE PAYMENT INFORMATIONS WE WILL DISPATCH YOUR CONSIGNMENT TO YOUR GIVEN ADDRESS.
WE ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU BETTER.
YOURS TRULY.
MRS. LILIAN R. SMITH.
OPERATIONS MANGER OF EXPRESS DIPLOMATIC COURIER SERVICE.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam