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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: "THOMAS MALCOM" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <collins_udoka99@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 18:15:52 +0800
Subject: ATT : URGENT REPLY NEEDED FROM YOU:

Attn

Dear sir / madam


Re : From: SSgt. Thomas Malcom

Goodday to you! How are you and your family? Hope all is well? I bring
good news from the caves of war for freedom to my nation. God Bless
America!

My name is (SSgt) Thomas Coleman; an American soldier, presently serving in
the 3rd Infantry Division, US Army. I am seeking your kind assistance to
move the sum of (US$16 million) sixteen million United States dollars to
you in your country; as far as I can be assured that my share will be safe
in your care until I complete my service in Iraq. I found your contact
particulars in an address journal.

Some money in various currencies were discovered in barrels at a farmhouse
near one of Saddam’s old palaces in Tikrit-Iraq during a rescue operation,
it was agreed by SSgt Kenneth Buff and I that some part of this money be
shared between us before informing anybody about it since both of us saw
the money first. This is quite an illegal thing to do, but I tell you
what? No compensation can make up for the risk we have taken in this hell
hole of which my brother in-law was killed by a road side bomb. The above
figure was given to me as my share, and to conceal this kind of money
became a problem for me. With the help of a British Aid Worker who enjoys
some immunity, I was able to get the package out to a safe location. He
does not know the real contents of the package as I made him to believe
that it belongs to a British-American medical doctor who died from the
result of an assault by Iraqi insurgents. I further made him believe that
the late Doctor entrusted the package in my hands for onward delivery to
you.

One passionate appeal I will make to you is not to discuss this matter
with anybody, should you have reasons to reject this offer, please and
please destroy this message as any leakage will be too bad for a US
soldier here in Iraq. I do not know how long we will remain here; the
month of May, 2008 remains the deadliest month out here. Totally, we lost
127 men, though I was shot and wounded. I have survived two suicide bomb
attacks by his special grace.
This and other reasons I will mention later has prompted me to reach out
for help, I sincerely want this matter to be resolved immediately.

Verify the above from this site :
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm



God bless you and your family.

SSgt. Thomas Coleman

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