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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Hassan Ali" <hassanalii1960@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: hassanalii1960@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2006 04:54:24 +0700
Subject: Hassan From Iraq

Please read!

In April 2003, Staff Sergeant Kenneth Buff of the United States Army found US$160 million hidden by fleeing members of the Baath Party led by former dictator Saddam Hussein of Iraq. Later, a search of the area revealed more hidden loot, totaling US$650 million in all! For a detailed account of the money found by the US Soldiers, please click on the following website:

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/04/20/1050777165192.html

Last week, during a routine archaeological excavation of the area east of Tigris River, I discovered 3 boxes of the similar kind found by the US Army! I carefully broke one box and discovered that it was full of US 100 Notes, total US$5 million!… A careful examination revealed that the notes were of the old currency, the pre-1996 Notes, which has a smaller face of the US President. I did a little research and discovered that the Notes are still legal Tender; please go to :

http://www.bep.treas.gov/section.cfm/4/27

In all, I have US$15 million packed in 3 boxes hidden in my house now. The security situation in Iraq is very bad. Therefore the solution is to move this money abroad. I cannot do it alone; I need foreign help! Can you help me? I have never traveled abroad, and I do not have any foreign contacts… I will therefore appreciate your help to move this money abroad for investment. In consideration of your help, you will keep US$5 million of this money as your share, and keep US$10 million in a safe bank account for me, until I arrive your Country to invest the money.

If you are interested, please reply urgently so that we can conclude the plan to move this money. It will be 100% risk free! You will not be required to travel to Iraq. Rather, I will use my local network to ship the 3 boxes to any destination address of your choice. Then it will be your job to put all the US$15 million safely in the bank. Please help me because I have no other person to contact and I put my trust on you .

May Allah bless you!

Regards,

Mr. Hassan Ali
Baghdad, Iraq



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