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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: Alex Sidney <chan4985@bellsouth.net>
Reply-To: captalexsidney72@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 3 Apr 2010 11:34:42 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: Dear Friend

Hello,

I know that my message will come as a great shock to you,
because this medium (Internet) has been greatly abused, but it still
remains the fastest medium of communication. Anyway, I am a captain
with the United Nations troops in Iraq, the war on terrorism. Based on
the executive decision by the United States president (Barack Obama) in
withdrawing troops from Iraq starting from September till next year. So
I have been re deployed to work in US German military base soon. Our
mission is to help beef terrorist targeted states, especially the
United States and the European Union on the war against terrorism. I
would like to inform you that I have in my possession the sum of 21.3
million U.S. dollars. Funds I got from one of our raiding here in Iraq
and I have decided to take the money as benefit for my sufferings here.
I deposited the money in a box with Red Cross agent and informed him
that we shall make contact for the actual owner of the box. It is
within my powers to approve who comes forth as the owner of the box.

My
plans are to invest the money in your country as soon as the box is
under your care. In any case, you will have to advise me on that since
I'm not a businessman. The point i want to make now is that I cannot
move me this money to the United States because I will be in Europe for
about 3 years, so I need someone who is trustworthy to assist me by
standing as the owner of the box. If you accept my proposal, I will
make plans to send the box to you by diplomatic means where you will be
the recipient because as a uniformed military staff and I cannot parade
such an amount. I have a 100% authentic means of transferring the box
through diplomatic courier service. Just all I need is your
acceptance to receive the box and all is done.

If
you are interested in my proposal, I will give you the complete details
you require for us to carry out this transaction successfully. I wrote
you this message because i decided to find someone real and not
imaginary. If you trust me, I will definitely trust you.

Right
now, I only communicate by our military installations, the Telephone
communication here is secured in such a way that our phone calls will
be monitored but communication through e-mails is more safe and i have
chosen our communication means to be through E-mail only.

When i
hear from you, then I can explain in detail everything else you need to
know. If you accept my proposal, please send me your Full name, Address
and Direct phone line. I am writing from a fresh email account so if
you are not interested, do not respond to this email and please delete
this message. If do not get any reply from you after 3 days I will be
looking for someone else.

Once this transaction is started, In
less than 5 days the money should be in your possession and I will come
immediately to meet you for the sharing of the money. Reach me at this
e-mail address: captalexsidney72@gmail.com it is more confidential.

Remember, kindly Get back to me with your full information:

Your full name ........................
Your full address ....................
YOUR direct phone ................

Regards,
Captain Alex Sidney.


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