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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "the consignment" (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)
  • "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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Tony Clarke <tonyclarke_53@live.com>
Reply-To: <tonyclarkemails@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 19 Nov 2007 11:04:16 +0000
Subject: Can I trust you on this?



BUSINESS INITIATIVE & CONCEPT

Dear friend,I know that you will receive this proposal with utmost shock and disbelief, but not to worry, as the transaction progresses, you will see things for yourself and get to appreciate. My name is Private Tony Clarke, a American soldier, serving in the military with the Third (3rd) infantry Division in Iraq. My superior officers and I after going on a rampage on Saddam Hussein's palaces in Baghdad discovered a large container where various denominations of currency worth millions are hidden. Kindly verify my claims as documented by BBC at the below website:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm.

Having discovered the container in question, I alerted my superior officer who smartly told me to cart away two containers containing substantial amount (prescisely USD$15,000,000.00 (Fifteen Million United States Dollars).

With the assistance of our contact person in The United Kingdom (A private attorney of our British military colleague), the fund in question was moved to a secure place in Africa because it will hardly be detected there due to lack of telecommunication network and technological advancement.

I will give you the details of the custodian to the consignment in Africa where the fund had been lodged but please This is a TOP SECRET and should be kept so.

Since we are still in active service, we cannot keep this fund in our bank accounts. It is on this juncture that I was mandated by my superior to look for a reliable and trustworthy person who could assist us to receive the fund on our behalf for investment purposes. Hence, my contacting you. There is no risk involved whatsoever. If you are interested, I will send you the full details of claim. My duty is to find a good partner that we can trust and that will assist us secure the fund. Can I trust you on this?

To ensure confidentiality, when you receive this letter, kindly reply me via e-mail signifying your interest forwarding your full names, address, telephone/Fax numbers for quick communication and identification.

We have mapped out 30% of the fund as yours after you must have claimed it considering the money you might invest on this transaction from the security company. Respectfully submitted by,

Tony Clarke
_________________________________________________________________
Explore the seven wonders of the world
http://search.msn.com/results.aspx?q=7+wonders+world&mkt=en-US&form=QBRE

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam