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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:
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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:

• 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:
  • "await your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "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.
  • geraldinemarcus@yahoo.ie (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Sgt geraldine marcus <gnmarcus@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: geraldinemarcus@yahoo.ie
Date: Fri, 07 Apr 2006 11:56:59 +0200
Subject: CAN I TRUST YOU?


Hello Friend,
I hope my email meets you well. I am in need of your assistance. My
name is Sgt GERALDINE MARCUS I am in the Engineering military unit here in Ba'qubah in Iraq,
we have $35 Million US dollars that we want to move out of the country.
My partners and I need a good partner someone we can trust. It's oil
money and legal and you don't have to nurse any fear, we will package this deal with utmost security and confidence.
But we are moving it through diplomatic means to a security company in Europe where the money will be paid into your account directly or a bank of your choice using diplomatic courier service to deliver the consignment.
But can we trust you? Once the funds get to you, you take your 50%
out of the money and keep our own 50% until we will send one of us to you to take our own part of the money.
Your own responsibility of this deal is to find a safe place where the funds can be sent to, and we shall send it to you as soon as possible.
If you are interested and you agree to assist us, please send accross to me your full NAMES, ADDRESS, TELEPHONE No., FAX and your ACCOUNT details for immediate transfer of the funds" I will furnish you with more details that will facilitate your immediate access to this fund.
Please, reply me through this email for security purposes geraldinemarcus@yahoo.ie
Thanking you and i await your urgent response.
Regards,
Sgt GERALDINE MARCUS

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam