419 scam: "Lt. Col. Michael Adlerstein" <gerryvm@bellsouth.net> From Lt. Col. Michael Adlerstein,

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
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:
- "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)
- "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)
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.
- adlersteinmichael090@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Lt. Col. Michael Adlerstein" <gerryvm@bellsouth.net>
Reply-To: adlersteinmichael090@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2011 03:01:13 -0800 (PST)
Subject: From Lt. Col. Michael Adlerstein,

From Lt. Col. Michael Adlerstein,

E-Mail;adlersteinmichael090@gmail.com

Good Day,

My name is Lt. Col. Michael Adlerstein, 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's family in 2003.

The total amount is US$50 Million United States Dollars
in cash, mostly 100 Dollar bills,this money has been kept somewhere
outside Baghdad for sometime but with the proposed troop reduction by
President Obama, we are afraid that the money will be discovered hence
we want to move this money to you for safe keeping pending the
completion of our assignment here.That is why i came to London to make
arrangement.

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 diplomatic means in shipping the money out as military cargo using diplomatic immunity. 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? When you receive this letter, kindly send an E-mail to: adlersteinmichael090@gmail.com

Signifying your interest by sending the required details below

FULL NAMES..............................................................................................................

CONTACT ADDRESS.............................................................................................................

TELEPHONE NUMBER/FAX...........................................................................

OCCUPATION.................................................................................

Note This is risk free.

With regards from,

Lt. Col. Michael Adlerstein.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam