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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "diplomatic immunity"
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • mail.m_powell2005@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Sgt. Mike powell" <m_powell2@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: m_powell2005@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 13:17:12 +0100
Subject: from Sgt. Mike powell


FROM: Sgt. Mike powell
To whom it may concern.
I am an American soldier, I am serving in
the military of the 1st Armored Division in Iraq, as
you know we are
being attacked by insurgents everyday and car bombs.
We managed to move
funds belonging to Saddam Hussein’s family. The total
amount is US$7.2
Million dollars in cash, mostly 100 dollar bills. We
want to move this
money to you, so that you may invest it for us and
keep our share for
banking.
We will take 60%, my partner and I. You take the other
40%. No strings
attached, just help us move it out of Iraq, Iraq is a
war zone. We plan
on using diplomatic courier and shipping the money out
in one large
silver box, using diplomatic immunity.
If you are interested I will send you the full
details, my job is to
find a good partner that we can trust and that will
assist us. Can I
trust you? When you receive this letter, kindly send
me an e-mail
signifying your interest including your most
confidential telephone/fax
numbers
for quick communication also your contact details.
This business is
risk free. The box can be shipped out in 48hrs.
Respectfully,
Sgt. Mike powell.
E mail.m_powell2005@yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam