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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.

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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "insurance fee " (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. )
  • "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. )
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "NEKELE FRANK" <nekelefrank109@ig.com.br>
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:51:27 +0100
Subject: COMPANY WENT TO DELIVERY PACKAGE


Dear Friend,

Greetings to you & your Family.

I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Confirmable Bank
Draft of $1.78200 United States Dollars, but I did not hear from you since
that time ,Then I went and deposited the Draft with
Global Security & Express Courier Company,Cotonou, Benin Republic before I
travelled out of the country for a short Course and i will not come back
till end of next Month.

What you have to do now is to contact the Global Express Courier & Security
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 Charges, Insurance fee
and Clearance Certificate Fee of the Cheque showing that it is not a Drug
Money nor to sponsor Terrorist attack in your Country,

The only money you will send to the Courier & Security Company to
deliver your Draft direct to your postal Address in your country is ($105)
One Hundred & five United States Dollars only being their Security Keeping
Fee of the Courier Company so far.

Again, Don't deceive by anybody to pay any other money except $105.00,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 Global Express Courier & Security Company now for
the delivery of your Draft with this information bellow.

Contact Person; Mr.EDWIN IGWE
Email Address: gexpresscompany@yahoo.in
Tel/FAX;00229 93686-163

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 youraddress.

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 $105 for their immediate action.

You should also Let me know through email as soon as you receive your Draft.

Yours Faithfully,
Mr.NKELEE FRANK

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam