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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
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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: SGT.DON JAMES <americasoldier000@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 09 Jun 2006 02:10:24 +0200
Subject: FROM SGT. DON JAMES


MY DEAREST ONE,

HOW ARE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, I HOPE ALL IS WELL? MY NAME IS (SGT 1ST CLASS) DON JAMES, I AM AN AMERICAN SOLDIER, SERVING IN THE MILITARY WITH THE ARMY'S 3RD INFANTRY DIVISION. WITH A VERY DESPERATE NEED FOR ASSISTANCE, I HAVE SUMMED UP COURAGE TO CONTACT YOU. I FOUND YOUR CONTACT PARTICULARS IN AN ADDRESS JOURNAL.

I AM SEEKING YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE TO MOVE THE SUM OF ($20 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS) TWENTY MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS TO YOUR CARE. AS FAR AS I CAN BE ASSURED THAT THIS MONEY WE BE SAFE IN YOUR ACCOUNT UNTIL I COMPLETE MY SERVICE AND THERE ARE NO DANGER INVOLVED.

SOURCE OF MONEY: SOME MONEY IN VARIOUS CURRENCIES WAS DISCOVERED IN BARRELS AT A FARMHOUSE NEAR ONE OF SADDAM'S OLD PALACES IN TIKRIT-IRAQ. THIS FUND WAS DISCOVER DURING A RESCUE OPERATION AND IT WAS AGREED BY STAFF SGT KENNETH BUFF TO SHARE THIS MONEY AMONG OURSELVES BECAUSE NO COMPENSATION CAN MAKE UP FOR THE RISK WE HAVE TAKEN WITH OUR LIVES IN THIS HELL WHOLE OF WHICH MY BROTHER IN-LAW WAS KILLED BY A ROAD SIDE BOMB LAST WEEK.

YOU WILL FIND THE STORY OF THIS MONEY ON THE WEB ADDRESS BELOW:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A35080-2003Apr24?
THE ABOVE FIGURE WAS GIVEN TO ME AS MY SHARE AND TO CONCEAL THIS KIND OF MONEY BECAME A PROBLEM FOR ME, SO WITH THE HELP OF A BRITHISH CONTACT WORKING HERE AND HIS OFFICE ENJOY SOME IMMUNITY.

I WANT YOU TO TELL ME HOW MUCH YOU WILL TAKE FROM THIS MONEY FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE? ONE PASSIONATE APPEAL I WILL MAKE TO YOU IS NOT TO DISCUSS THIS MATTER WITH ANY BODY, SHOULD YOU HAVE REASONS TO REJECT THIS OFFER, PLEASE AND PLEASE DESTROY THIS MESSAGE AS ANY LEAKAGE OF THIS INFORMATION WILL BE TOO BAD FOR US SOLDIER'S HERE IN IRAQ.

I DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG WE WILL REMAIN HERE AND I HAVE BEEN SHOT, WOUNDED AND SURVIVED TWO SUICIDE BOMB ATTACKS BY THE SPECIAL GRACE OF GOD, THIS AND OTHER REASONS I WILL MENTION LATER HAS PROMPTED ME TO REACH OUT FOR HELP, I HONESTLY WANT THIS MATTER TO BE RESOLVED IMMEDIATELY.

PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, MY ONLY WAY OF COMMUNICATION FOR NOW IS E-MAIL: DON_JAMES@atlas.cz

GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

SGT. DON JAMES.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam