419 scam: "US Army"<spc.smithallen@us.soldier.gov> Greetings.

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "usarm@9.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "US Army" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <spcsmithcooperallen@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Tue, 6 Jul 2010 08:58:11 +0200
Subject: Greetings.

Greeting,

I am Smith Cooper Allen an American soldier, I am serving in the military of the 1st Armored Division in Iraq, as you know we are being attacked by insurgents everyday and car bombs. We managed to move the sum of US$19.5 Million dollars in cash belonging to Saddam Hussein's family in 2003. This money has been kept somewhere outside Baghdad for sometime now, but with the speculated troop withdrawal by president Obama, we are afraid that the funds will be discovered.

We want to move the sum of US$19.5 Million dollars in cash for safe keeping pending the completion of our assignment here. We are therefore writing to ask you that you quietly partner with us as long as there will be honesty till the end of the deal and I hope you will never let us down.

You can go to this web link to read about events that took place then view this site: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm
http://educate-yourself.org/cn/moenytobereturnedtoiraq30apr03.shtml

We are ready to give you the sum of $7,500,000 ($7.5M) for your assistance and partnering with us. Note that a special payment arrangement has been made to deliver this fund to you through diplomatic means. I will require your urgent reply via email: usarm@9.cn so that I give you the next step

With regards,

Smith Cooper Allen

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam