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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
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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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. )
  • "certified bank draft" (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.
  • fedexcourierserviceplc@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Franklin Saraki <franklinsaraki2003@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <mrfranklinsaraki@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 26 Jan 2008 01:42:24 +0100
Subject: Re. Your Package....URGENT...



Re. Your Package....URGENT...Good DAY !!! How are you doing today and your family? I hope this mail meets you in a perfect condition. I have been waiting for your response in contact of your certified Bank Draft of $1.4M. United States Dollars, But I did not hear from you since that time. Then I went and deposited the Draft with FED-EX DELIVERY EXPRESS COMPANY here in nigeria.
I have traveled out of the country for a 3 Months Course and I will not come back till end of March 2008. What you have to do now is to contact the FED-EX DELIVERY 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 for the delivery Charges, Insurance premium and Clearance Certificate Fee of the check showing that it is not a Drug Money or meant to sponsor Terrorist attack in your Country. The only money you will send to the FED-EX DELIVERY EXPRESS COMPANY to deliver your Draft direct to your postal Address in your country is($120.00) US Dollars only being Security Keeping Fee of the Courier Company so far. Again, I would have paid that but they said no because they don? know when you will contact them and in case of demurrage. You have to contact the PERFECT VAULT SECURITIES COMPANY now for the delivery of your
Draft with this information below:Contact Person: Mrs. Winnie Lucia,Email Address:fedexcourierserviceplc@hotmail.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 issue to you your 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 $120.00 US Dollars for their immediate action. Yours Faithfully,Mr. Franklin Saraki,Presidential Library & MuseumDirector of International OnlineLottery Co-coordinator/ Compensation. &copy;
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam