419 scam: "From: MAJOR.JOSEPH BELL"<tecnica@siss.com.ar> From: MAJOR.JOSEPH BELL

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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 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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "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)
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.
- majorjosephbell@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "From: MAJOR.JOSEPH BELL" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <majorerich.miller@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2015 23:57:33 -0400
Subject: From: MAJOR.JOSEPH BELL

Hello,

I am JOSEPH BELL, a British soldier attached to UN peace keeping force in Syria. I am the commanding officer of the First Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment. AS you may know, everyday there are several cases of insurgent attacks and suicide bombs going on here. We have managed to move funds belonging to some demised persons who were attacked and killed through these attacks. The total amount is US$15 Million dollars in cash. We want to move this money to you, so that you can help keep our share for us until when we shall come over to meet you. My partner and I will take 70%, while you take 30%. No strings attached! Just help us move it out of Syria which is a war zone right now.

We plan on using Diplomatic courier and shipping the money out in two large metallic Boxes, 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 who is ready to assist us. Can we trust you? When you receive this letter, kindly send me an e-mail signifying your interest including your most confidential telephone/fax numbers and other contact details for quick communication. This business is risk free. The boxes can be shipped out in 48hrs.

Please If you are Interested in assisting, kindly reply through this PRIVATE and CONFIDENTIAL Email for further Documentations and briefing, (majorjosephbell@groupmail.com)

PLEASE, TREAT THIS PROPOSAL AS TOP SECRET.

Respectfully,

MAJOR.JOSEPH BELL

E-Mail: majorjosephbell@hotmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam