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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "the consignment" (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)
  • "million 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)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "observe utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "can i trust you?" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "the diplomat " ("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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "jamesurban@cartagena.es" <jamesurban@cartagena.es>
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:05:54 +0100 (CET)
Subject: PLS REPLY



Dear,

My name is Sgt John Guy, I am an American soldier, I am serving in the mili=
tary of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regimient, Patrols Tal Afar, in Iraq. I apo=
logized using this medium to reach you for a deal of this magnitude.=20

We managed to move funds belonging to Saddam Hussein=E2=80=99s family. The =
total amount is US$25 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 o=
ur share for banking. I have the authority of my partners involved to propo=
se that should you be willing to assist us in this transaction, your share=
of the sum will be 30% of the US$25 million, 60% for us and 10% will be k=
ept aside for expenses and rest assure that this business is 100% safe on y=
our part provided you treat it with utmost secrecy and confidentiality.

Basically since we are working for the American Government, we cannot keep =
these funds, We plan on using diplomatic courier by shipping the money out=
to you by using diplomatic immunity. No strings attached, just help us mov=
e it out of Iraq, for Iraq is a war zone. You will only help the diplomat t=
o get the yellow tag paper as soon as they arrive in your airport, they wil=
l have to call you to notify you that they have arrive for you to arrange w=
ith them on geting the tag so that the custom and immigration will not insp=
ect the consignment.

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? W=
hen you receive this letter, kindly send me an e-mail signifying your inter=
est including your most confidential telephone/address for quick communicat=
ion for the delivery. This business is risk free. The box can be shipped ou=
t in 48hrs.

Please observe utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that this busine=
ss is risk free.

Respectfully submitted
Sgt. John Guy.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam