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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:

• 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:
  • "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 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)
  • "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)
  • "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "your humble assistance" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "diplomatic immunity" ("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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "DEN USMAN" <denusman1@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2008 06:29:03 -0700
Subject: Humble Assistance


Hello

I got your contact through a desperate and personal search on the web for
someone I could really trust as I have prayed over it and I wish to express
my interest to handle this matter with you as I believe that you are
reliable in handling these type of international transaction.

My name is Sgt Den Usman, an American soldier, I am serving in the military
of the 3rd Infantry Division in Iraq.

I am in Iraq at the moment, I and my partner moved one of the boxes
containing funds which we believe is belonging to Saddam Hussein and the
total fund in this box is $35,000,000.00 (thirty five million US dollars)
and this fund was secured in a secured security Company and you can Click
on this
link:* *http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm

Basically since we are working for the American government we cannot keep
these funds, since we are three that are involved. This means that you will
take 30%, I will take 30%, and my partner will take 30% and %10 will be
kept aside for expenses.

This business is confidential, and we plead that it should not be discussed
with anyone.There is no risk whatsoever involved as we left this fund in the
Security company without declaring it's contents for this period of time to
make sure that the fund will be safe for transfer and investment.

The security company is ready to move the sealed box of the money by
diplomatic immunity through diplomatic channel to any duty free zone country
so that any person I provide as my foreign partner can sign and receive the
consignment on my behalf.

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 will assist us.

Kindly send me an e-mail if you are interested including your telephone/fax
numbers for quick communication and also your contact details.

I assure you that this transaction is risk free and its success is 100%
guaranteed,

Please help us to help you and please get in touch with me through this
email and Note also that you must keep this transaction top secret as our
life is at stake if any one hears of this transaction .

I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance on this regard so please
consider this and get back to me as soon as possible to enable me give you
the full information's that will be needed but please if you are not
interested to do the business let me also know to enable me look for
another person.

Yours-in-service,

Sgt Den Usman

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam