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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: "Sgt. William Curtis"<williamcurtis@live.com>
Reply-To: <wcccurtiss@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2009 22:13:32 -0700
Subject: Greetings

Greetings,
 
I know you would be surprised to read from someone relatively unknown
to you before. My name is SGT. Williams Curtis, a member of the U.S.
ARMY USARPAC Medical Team, which was deployed to Iraq in the beginning
of the war in Iraq. I would like to share some highly personal
classified information about my personal experience and role which I
played in the pursuit of my career serving under the U.S 1st Armored
which was at the fore-front of the war in Iraq.
 
Though, I would like to hold back certain information for security
reasons for now until you have find the time to visit the BBC website
stated below to enable you have insight as to what I'm intending to
share 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
 
Also, could you get back to me having visiting the above website to
enable us discuss in a more clarifying manner to the best of your
understanding. I must say that I'm 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 of you and I and nothing more.
 
I will be vivid and coherent in my next message in this regards,
meanwhile, could you send me a mail confirming you have visited the
site and that you have understood my intentions? I will await your
thoughts.
 
Thanks,
Best Regards
SGT. Williams Curtis.

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