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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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)
  • "can i trust you?" (a common phrase found 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: "Sgt.Jeff Howard" <tl1548368@googlemail.com>
Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:00:03 -0700
Subject: Confidential Pls


Dear Sir,

Good day to you, My name is Jeff Howard, I am an American soldier, I am
serving in the military of the 1st Armored Division in Iraq , as you know we
are being attacked by insurgents everyday and car bombs. We managed to move
funds belonging to Saddam Hussein family in 2003.

The total amount is US$25 Million dollars in cash, mostly 100 dollarbills,
this money has been kept somewhere outside Baghdad for sometime but with the
rece! nt troop increase by president Bush, we are afraid that the money will
bediscovered hence we want to move this money to you for safe keeping
pending the completion of our assignment here. You can go to this web link
to read about eventsthat took place there:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm

We tried to move the money out of Iraq early this year but unfortunately our
Captain was posted out of Baghdad and we suspended the plan, we now have
another opportunity hence we are making this contact to you. We are ready to
compensate you with good percentage of the funds, No strings attached, just
for you to help us move it out of Iraq. Iraq is a war zone, so we plan on
using the red cross to shipping the money out as military cargo. If you are
interested, I will send you the full details as my job is to find a good
partner that we can trust and that will assist us. Can I trust you?

When you receive this letter, kindly send me an e-mail signifying your
interest including your most confidential telephone numbers for quick
communication also your contact details.

This is risk free.

With regards from,

Sgt. Jeff Howard.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam