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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:
  • "dear friend" (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)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• 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.
  • mark_vandon@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "SGT. Mark Donovan "<markfour4@excite.com>
Reply-To: mark_vandon@yahoo.fr
Date: Mon, 29 Jan 2007 17:36:41 -0500 (EST)
Subject: From: Sgt Mark Donovan












From: Sgt Mark Donovan Sgt: Third (3rd) infantry Division UK Military Iraq Division

Dear Friend, My name is Sgt Mark Donovan I’m a UK soldier, serving in the military with the Third (3rd) infantry Division in Iraq (US Coalition Force). I and my superior after going on a rampage on Saddam Hussein palace in Baghdad discovered a substantial amount of money. You may need to check out the following BBC website to confirm more of our discovery which was made known to the government, but this particular one is a top secret: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm

While on our rampage mission to Saddam Hussein Palace, we discovered secretly the sum of US$132,000,000 (One Hundred and Thirty Two Million United States Dollars) which was secretly moved out to a secure security company in Paris France through diplomatic means. We therefore write to seek your assistance to proceed to Paris France and secure this funds under your custody until we are through with our service assignment in Iraq. We cannot disburse and keep more than 10,000 GBP in our account while in active service.

There is no risk involved whatsoever. If you are interested I will send you the full details, my job is to find a good partner that we can trust on this project and I believe you won’t let us down. To ensure confidentiality, when you receive this letter, kindly reply me via e-mail signifying your interest including you’re the following information 1) Your Tel/Fax number for verbal and administrative communication2) Your contact address for administrative application of the funds claim3)Your identity for us to identify you Respectfully Submitted NB: Forward your response to my direct email address Mark_vandon@yahoo.fr

_______________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam