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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Captain G Howard <usarmy03_13@msn.com>
Reply-To: <usarmy.cptgh@live.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:40:50 +0000
Subject: Your Prompt Response Will Be Highly Appreciated.





Dear Friend,

My name is Howard Glen a Captain in the U.S. Army now on a tour of duty in Iraq.During one of our duty assignment, we stumbled on an Al-qaida dump site where was stacked many arms and also cash dollars to the amount of over (USD$95000000.Ninety Five Million United States Dollars) We only declared the arms and kept quiet concerning the money.This was quite illegal thing to do,i know but i tell you that no compensation can make up for the risk we are taking with our lives in this hell hole of which my brother in law was killed by a road side bomb blast last time. You will find the story of monies found in Iraq on this website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm

The money was shared among us and I being the Platoon commander got $10.7 Million.I was able to move this money out of Iraq to London UK through a Non Governmental Organization.

Presently the money is lodged with a security company.My tour is not finished so I am seeking a trust worthy person who will receive this money in the U.S. or any other part of the world on my behalf and hold it on trust for me and invest part of it till I come back.You will be entitled to 35% of the total sum for your participation.

Also, I have arrangements for this money to be delivered to your doorstep if you can not go to London to pick it. One passionate appeal i will make to you is not to discuss this matter with anybody.Should you have any reason to reject this offer,please and please destroy this messaage as any leakage of this information will be too bad for us soldiers here in Iraq.
Please respond so as to forward to you further informations.My regular ID is: usarmy.cptgh@live.com

Yours sincerely,

Captain G.Howard.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam