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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: usman briggs <usmanbriggs1@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2007 19:03:40 +0100
Subject: confidential enquiry attn pls



Dear sir
I decided to contact after deliberations with my colleagues. The Community of West African States formed a military coalition to mediate in crisis among member states, called ECOMOG. I was one of the DIRECTORS during our operations of peace-keeping mission in Sierra-leone.
The former president of Liberia Mr. Charles Taylor has been sponsoring the rebels in Sierra -Leone in exchange for the rebel controlled Gold and diamond in Sierra-lone. Due to his activities the United Nations placed Diamond and arms embargo on Liberia until the exit of Mr. Charles Taylor who is now in London jail, facing trail in Hague for Human right abuses in both his country Liberia and Siera-leone.
During our routing operation along the border town between Liberia and Sierra-Leone, we apprehended a lorry loaded with provisions and fund meant for the upkeep of rebels . We deposited the trunk boxes in a Bank for safe keeping in another country due to the war situation in Liberia and Sierra-Leone at that time. We have winded up our operations due to the enthronement of an elected president in both countries last year.
I have been mandated to seek for an honest individual that will assist us, to receive the fund and the gold on our behalf as the beneficiary. This is because of our status as Peacekeepers, we can not claim the goods and fund hence we deposited it in the Bank as lost and found items and the documents is with us.
We agreed to offer you 20%of the proceed, if you can assist us to secure the FUNDS . My colleagues and I will like to invest the proceed in profitable ventures outside our shores. The certificate of Deposit issued by the bank shall be faxed to you for your perusals as soon as I receive your response.
You should forward your telephone and fax numbers for prompt response please. I will appreciate your immediate response to enable us expedite actions. Note you should respond via my private email address -
Best regards
USMAN BRIGGS
_________________________________________________________________
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