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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.

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.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "million us 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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • sgt.markrich@mail.md (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "markrich001 Gazeta.pl" <markrich001@gazeta.pl>
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 05:17:08 -0700
Subject: urgent response


Dear Friend,

My name is Sgt. Mark Rich of The 3rd Battalion,
3rd Marines, I am serving in Iraq (Mosul) and I will need your assistance to
take care of some financial matters for me and of course you will be
adequately compensated.

I have to urgently evacuate the sum of $25,000,000.00 (Twenty five million
US dollars) clean legal notes and all in US$100 bills out of here to a safe
place, having found a secure way to do so.

5 million US dollars (US$ 5,000,000) will be your share for rendering this
assistance.

SOURCE OF MONEY:
Some money in various currencies were discovered concealed in barrels with
piles of weapons and ammunitions at a location near one of Saddam,s old
palaces during a rescue operation several months ago and it was agreed by
the few of us present that the money be shared amongst us, though this was
an illegal thing to do, but I tell you what? No compensation can make up for
the risks we are taking with our lives in this hell hole.

Click on this links to read about event that took place here

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_130622.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm

The above figure was given to me as my share and for several reasons,
concealing this volume of cash here has been a big problem to me. I have now
temporarily moved the money to Malaysia where the money was lodged in a
security company with the help of a lady who is working with an
international organization here, She does not know the real contents of the
packages used in concealing the funds and must not know rather believes that
the packages belong to an Asian American who died in an air raid and before
giving up, he trusted me to hand the packages as it is to his business
associate in Europe.

One request I will like that you keep this information to yourself. Should
you have any reasons to reject this offer, please destroy this mail as any
leakage will be too bad for us. I want to have a very peaceful retirement
life after my service here and I rely so much on this fortune to provide
that for me. If this proposal is acceptable by you, I await your urgent
e-mail so we can discuss more.

Semper Fi.
Sgt. Mark Rich
"US MARINES"
REPLY TO: sgt.markrich@mail.md

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam