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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: "Bill Roberts" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <robertsbill03@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 4 May 2010 09:13:07 -1200
Subject: Can I Trust You? Kindly View The Attached File For Your Perusal.

Hello Friend,

Permit the manner with which I am seeking your assistance but I am short of options and have no other choice. I am Bill Roberts from the hospitality state (Mississippi), an army contractor attached to the US Army corps of engineers and Military force in Iraq. The reason why I am explaining my findings to you is to seek for your assistance to enable you contribute immensely to the actualization of my dream.

I am attached to the US army for the sole purpose of reconstruction work in some parts of Iraq. As you very well know, Iraq is gradually undergoing a rebuilding process in some parts and there is much need for reconstruction which is were I come in. I evaluate the level of destruction and offer professional advice in line with the way they intend rebuilding. Work has been risky no doubt and challenging as sometimes we are faced head on with armed insurgents where we lose some soldiers during confrontation. I have had my own share of losses as I lost a very good friend also an army contractor whom I have known for 12 years.

On the 23rd day of May 2007, I and my group of 2 Army Engineers were alerted on the need of some reconstruction works in Haifa Street, a long thoroughfare of high-rise buildings built and occupied by Saddam Hussein when he was alive here in Baghdad. We proceeded to the marked site and as I commenced evaluation work, I discovered an unusual bulge in a cellar which I presumed to be a storage room. I decided to have a go at it and the metal covering was kicked in only to find two metal boxes. I told my men to open the boxes in order to find out the contents and when they were opened to our amazement the boxes contained foreign currencies.

I however instructed them to keep this in high secrecy so that we can have the money to our selves, they all agreed to the plan and we were going to get the money out of the country but first we had to hide the money in a safe and untraceable location. I am now in desperate need of a "Reliable and Trustworthy" person like you who would receive, secure and protect these boxes containing the US Dollars for me up on till my assignment elapses here. We cannot afford to leave the boxes here in Iraq for any reason since Iraq is getting unsafe and dangerous everyday. We have no idea what could happen next as everything remains inconclusive at this point.

I assure and promise to give you 30% of this fund, however feel free to negotiate what you wish to have as your percentage in this deal. Please assure me of your keeping this top most secret within you so that my job would not be jeopardized as i am presently in hospital still receiving treatment here in Iraq which is as a result of a bomb explosion. For more classified information, kindly send me your private e-mail address for more details regarding the transfer.

My Sincere Regards,
Bill Roberts.

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