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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
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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:
  • "the consignment" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: FRED WILLIAM <fredwilliam_01@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <fredwilliam_2008@yahoo.fr>
Date: Fri, 2 Nov 2007 19:29:39 -0400
Subject: From Mr Fred William



>From Mr Fred William This is to inform you that arrangements have been concluded as regards to the shipment of your consignment of funds to your country. I choose to conclude it and make sure it is off already before contacting you. I found out that this consignment has been lying here because of non-payment of shipment fees. This is why I decided to use my connections as the Shipment officer in charge of the National Security warehouse.(This is where all the abandoned consignments in Nigeria are kept at the orders of the Government of Nigeria.) The consignment left Lagos Nigeria yesterday night en-route your country via London-Italy.-Spain It is a metal box, silver in color with a weight of about 25kg, The box is declared as containing diplomatic wants /inheritance documents only. The name of the Courier Company based in london is Air Citi Credit courier Company. I have the Code number with me. Call me immediately so that I can give you the Code number, phone and fax numbers of the courier company in London so that you confirm when the consignment will arrive. I choose to do this for you because I studied your file and discovered that you have paid a lot of money before abandoning this consignment and I believe you will compensated me well when you receive the consignment. Note: I know the content of the Box because I could see the amount you are being owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria. This is why I decided to get involved. You must also know that this arrangement do not concern all the people you were dealing with in Nigeria before today as this consignment/Payment has been surrendered to the Government. Hence my involvement. Waiting for your respondYours truly Mr Fred WilliamDirector National warehouse department
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam