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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.

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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:
  • "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)
  • "is highly confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: generalrichardshirreff@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:41:18 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: From Major General Richard Shirreff



TOP SECRET
 
Dearest Freind,
 
A very nice day to you,
 
I am Major General Richard Shirreff, a British military commander here in Basra Iraq.
 
Listen attentively: This information I'm disclosing to you is highly confidential and if you can well exam yourself and know you are not capable enough to handle the project you should forgive me and delete this message from your email list.
 
The project I had at hand to conclude with you is this: during our operations in Basra Iraq, our troop discovered some Millions of United States Dollars in 31 sealed containers and the containers has been handed over to United States military for the safekeeping. Then after some few days later, we still discovered one iron save which contained $50Million United States Dollars and the money is well packaged inside the save but I decided to safeguard the save in Dilemma Security Guards who based here in Iraq in other to make use of the money to establishing a good foundation for orphanage homes, disables and carers and less privileges when we pull out from Iraq but it's not yet time were our troops will pull out and if the save keep on staying with the Dilemma Security Guards it may get loss so that is why I contacted you to inquire your possibility of receiving the iron save over there in your base and share 25% of the money to all
orphanage homes, disables and carers and less privileges. Then, you will keep 50% for me in your bank account until we pull out from Iraq while the remaining 25% is for you.
 
If you are interested to receive the iron save in your base you should indicate your interest fully to enable me order the Dilemma Security Guards to deliver the save to your base through their diplomatic courier services.
 
Note: This project is 100% risk free hence no body is aware of the money inside the save though the save is well deposited in the custody of Dilemma Security Guards as a property of a foreigner who based here in Iraq before the outbrake war for the security reason of the money inside the save. I still told them that it's the foreigner family belongings to avoid the officials of Dilemma Security Guards making away with the money inside. So you will act as the foreigner who based here in Iraq before the outbrake war.
 
For more information, you should click on the below website to read the news by yourself.
 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6212599.stm
 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm
 
I wait for your immediate response as soon as you received this message in good faith.
 
Thank you once again for your co-operation
 
Major General Richard Shirreff

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam