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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • universalexpresscourierco@aggies.com

Fraud email example:

From: Widow of Heaven <widowofheaven01@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <widowofheaven1@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2007 09:58:20 +0000
Subject: CONTACT UNIVERSAL EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY



Dear Friend,

Greetings!

I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your
Confirmable Bank Draft of $800.000.00 United States Dollars, but I
did not hear from you since that time. Then I went and deposited
the Draft with UNIVERSAL EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY before 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 UNIVERSAL EXPRESS
COURIER 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 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
Terroristattack in your Country.

The only money you will send to the UNIVERSAL EXPRESS COURIER
COMPANY to deliver your Draft direct to your postal Address in
your country is ($155.00 US)Dollars only being Security Keeping
Fee of the Courier Company so far.

Again, don't be deceived by anybody to pay any other money except
$155.00US 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 UNIVERSAL EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY now for
the delivery of your Draft with this information bellow;

Contact Person: MARTINS LITTLE Email Address: universalexpresscourierco@Aggies.com

Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address and
Direct telephone number to them again to avoid any mistake on the
Delivery and ask them to give you the tracking number to enable
you track your package over there and know when it will get to
your address.

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 $155.00 US Dollars for their
immediate action.

You should also let me know through email as soon as you receive
your Draft.
Yours faithfully,
Edward Yau


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam