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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:
  • "huge amount of money" (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: "Col. Rock" <gilbertoak01@yahoo.co.uk> (may be fake)
Reply-To: rrockzuma@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2007 08:17:58 -0700
Subject: RE: COMPLIMENTS

Dear Sir/ Ma

This is commander Rock Zuma an American soldier, serving in the Military with the Third Infantry Division in Iraq. During this on going war in Iraq, we discovered some huge amount of money in Baghdad neighborhood belonging to Saddam Hussein, and with my position, I smuggled some part of these funds out of Baghdad.

I am not making a journalistic reference, but am trying to let you understand the circumstance behind this. This money is being kept safe in a secured location. Basically, am writing you due to the situation I found myself and cannot return back to America again because I was among five US soldiers questioned by military officials after some of
the money was allegedly stolen, as I have absconded from US military and am now in exile.

I got your contact during my search for a reliable; trust worthy and honest person to introduce this transfer project with. I have killed in war and I found no peace anymore in where I am right now as I have been declared wanted by US Military. I have decided to look for a reliable person to help me retrieve these funds from the Financial Institution and invest it.

I shall seek for an asylum in any part of the world outside United States of America because I cannot return back to my lovely country and I have been diagnosed of Cancer of Lungs and Oesophagus due to Bomb exposure I inhale during my escape in the war.

To ensure confidentiality, when you receive this letter, kindly reply me via e-mail signifying your interest including your confidential telephone/fax numbers for quick communication and also your contact details. Please even if you are not interested keep this proposal secret.
I wait to read from you urgently. http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0821-01.htm

Thanks.
Mr. Rock Zuma, (Lieutenant Colonel)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam