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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:

Fraud email example:

From: Allen Woodford <alenwoodf@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 04:17:18 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Attention


U.S. ARMY USARPAC MEDICAL TEAM
>From Sgt Allen Woodford


Attention:


I know that you will be skeptical about mail mail but I got your contact
from your Email domain hence the desire to contact you for good
collaboration for this project of mine. If you are willing to show your
honesty and trust, I will be able to trust and work with you. I am an
American and you should be rest assured that we will achieve our goal.
My name is Sgt Allen Woodford a member of the U.S. ARMY USARPAC MEDICAL
TEAM, which was deployed to Iraq at the beginning of the war in Iraq.
Although the war has ended, to prove this, see the site below for more
information.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/30/iraq-us-troop-withdrawal-celebrations_n_1176330.html
http://dailycaller.com/2011/12/27/as-iraq-war-ends-no-parade-for-troops-is-imminent/
I refused to come along with them though the war has ended. Reason is
that I deposited a Trunk Box with a Security Company in Iraq. As a
result of this, I have to escape and stay behind to make sure that I am
able to get these box out before coming to America, knowingly, that if I am able to get this done I will live a better life. Please, I want this to be between You and I since I am at large. To Prove my sincerity
though, I would like to hold back some information for security reasons
for now until you have found time to visit the BBC website stated below
to enable you have an insight of what I intend sharing with you,
believing that it would be of your desired interest one-way or the
other.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm
I wait to hear from you having visited the above website to enable us
discuss in a more clarifying manner to the best of your understanding. I must say that I am very uncomfortable sending this message to you
without knowing truly if you would misconstrue the importance and
decides to go public. In this regards, I will not hold back to say that
the essence of this message is strictly for mutual benefit between you
and I and nothing more. I will be vivid and coherent in my next message. Meanwhile, could you send me an email confirming that you have visited
the site and that you have understood my intentions? I would like you to get back to me with the following information;
1. Full Name
2. Address
3. Occupation
4. Age
I do not need your telephone number at the moment because I cannot call
you and will not like you to call me too for security reasons, we can
only communicate through email until I leave Iraq.

Thank and waiting for your reply

Yours Faithfully

Sgt Allen Woodford

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