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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Amina Mahmoud" <aminaali1960@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2006 21:13:57 +0700
Subject: Amina from Iraq

Please read Allah has blessed my father!

In April 2003, Staff Sergeant Kenneth Buff of the United States Army found US$160 million hidden by fleeing members of the Baath Party led by our former dictator Saddam Hussein of Iraq. Later, a search of the area revealed more hidden loot, totaling US$650 million in all. For information about the money found by the US Soldiers, please click on the following website:
<http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/04/20/1050777165192.html>

Last week, during a routine archaeological excavation of the area east of Tigris River, my father discovered 3 boxes of the similar kind found by the US Army! he carefully broke one box and discovered that it was full of US 100 Notes, total US$5 million. My father did a little research and discovered that the Notes are still legal Tender.

In all, We have US$15 million packed in 3 boxes hidden in our house now. The security situation in Iraq is very bad. Therefore the solution is to move this money abroad. My father cannot do it alone; he need foreign help! Can you help us? We have never traveled abroad, and we do not have any foreign contacts… we will therefore appreciate your help to move this money abroad for investment. In consideration of your help, you will keep US$5 million of this money as your share, and keep US$10 million in a safe bank account for us, until we arrive your Country to invest the money.
If you are interested, please reply urgently so that we can conclude the plan to move it to you. It will be 100% risk free! You will not be required to travel to Iraq. Rather, my father will use his local network to ship the 3 boxes to any destination address of your choice. Then it will be your job to put all the money safely in the bank. Please help us because we have no other person to contact and I put my trust on you. My father told me to look for some body over seas to help him ship the money out of Iraq because he can not speak english very well but I can speak and write.

May Allah bless you!

Best Regards,
Miss Amina Mahmoud on behalf of
Mr. Mahmoud Razzali
Baghdad, Iraq







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