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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery 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:
  • "trunk box" (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)
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447031922835 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2008 01:18:57 -0000
Subject: RELEASE AND INVESTMENT OF MY MONEY.

DATE: 10th November, 2008.

 

Sir,

 

By way of Introduction, I am Mr. Timothy Harris, age 42 years from United Kingdom with International passport number: 020022453. I am serving with the British Army as a crude oil contractor in Basra Iraq.

 

In year December 2007, without the knowledge of the Iraqi government, I facilitated a business deal involving the Bunkering & sale of Iraqi crude oil to a buyer from Russia who paid $90 Million USD in cash. My share from the crude oil sale came to $25 Million USD while the other officer & local Iraqis involved shared the balance $65 Million USD.

 

As a result of the on-going war, there was no way I could transfer this money $25 Million USD via bank to bank out of Iraq. I safely packaged this money $25 Million USD into a metallic trunk box and transferred via United Nations (UN) International Diplomatic Courier Service out from Iraq and deposited into a warehouse in Europe.

 

I had to deposit the trunk box with the warehouse in Europe because I am still serving in Iraq and it is impossible for me to bring this money $25 Million USD into United Kingdom myself as the source of the money would be questioned and seized thereafter.

 

I need a foreign partner who would proceed to the storage warehouse in Europe to take delivery of this trunk box and invest these funds into a lucrative venture. If you are willing to assist in becoming my partner & beneficiary of the trunk box then I need you to furnish me with the following details:-

 

1. YOUR FULL NAMES

2. YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS

3. YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBERS

4. A COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION

 

I need to forward the above details to the delivery officer in Europe along with a Letter of Administration stating that you are the Foreign Partner Beneficiary of trunk box to facilitate the release to you.

 

You have to bear in mind that the contents of the trunk box is unknown to any person including the warehouse as I declared contents of the box as being Family Utilities which was accepted for deposit under diplomatic arrangement. The documents with which the trunk box is deposited will be changed to reflect you as the new beneficiary so that you will be eligible to collect the trunk box from the storage.

 

After a successful released and transfer of the Trunk Box, the sharing ratios would be as follows:

 

1.        70% ($17.5 Million USD) is mine.

2.        25% is yours plus an additional 5% (to reimburse you for the expenses that you shall bear to bring this transaction to a success) which bring your total compensation to 30% ($7.5 Million USD).

 

You can call me on my UK Number: +44 7031922835 is active here in Basra Iraq for oral discussions. I shall give you further details upon receipt of your positive reply.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

 

Mr. Timothy Harris

 

__._,_.___

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam