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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:

• 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 service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348069702033 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Jon Hegarty" <JHegarty@Essexinvest.com>
Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2008 07:07:49 -0400
Subject: Contact Person:Mr.Anthony Chris,E-mail skynetcourierdelivery22@live.com


Good day,I have been waiting for you since to
contact me for your Confirmable Bank Draft of
$500.000.00 United States Dollars,but I did
not hear from you since that time.

Then I went and deposited the Draft with SkyNet
Courier Service, West Africa, I travelled out of
the country for a 6 Months Course and I will not
come back till end of December.

What you have to do now is to contact the SkyNet
Courier Service 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
Terrorist attack in your Country.

The only money you will send to the SkyNet Courier
Service to deliver your Draft direct to your postal
Address in your country is ($100.00 US) Dollars only
being Security Keeping Fee of the Courier Company so
far.

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 SkyNet Courier Service
now for the delivery of your Draft with this information
bellow;

Finally,fill out below information and send it to SkyNet
Courier Service Via the email contact address below to them
again to avoid any mistake on the Delivery.

1.Full Name__________________________
2.Postal address_____________________
3.State/Country______________________
4.Direct telephone number____________

Contact Person: Mr.Anthony Chris
Email Address: skynetcourierdelivery22@live.com
Telephone:+2348069702033.

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 $100.00 US Dollars
for their immediate action.

Yours Faithfully,
Secretary
Mrs.Mercy Hunt @
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam