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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: "Capt.William Johnson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wcapt.johnson@sify.com>
Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2010 10:36:02 -0700
Subject: Attend to this email from William Johnson

Dear Friend,
 
I write to seek your help and assistance in a project that would benefit us.
 
My name is William Johnson from the hospitality state (Mississippi). I am an army contractor attached to the US Military force in Iraq 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 why I came in. I evaluate the level of destruction and offer professional advice in line with the way they intend rebuilding.
 
Work has been so risky no doubt, and challenging as sometimes, we are faced head with armed insurgent where we lose some soldiers during confrontation. I have had my own share of losses as I lost a friend whom I have known for 12 years.
 
On the 20th day of December 2009,at about 1100hrs during a normal inspection routine along Haifa Street, where there is long thoroughfare of high-rise buildings which were built and occupied by the late Saddam Hussein while he was still alive. I, along with 3 soldiers proceeded to a marked site and as I commenced evaluation work while I was closely guarded by soldiers, I discovered an unusual bulge in a cellar, which I presumed to be a storage room and I decided to have a go at it, and discovered five (5) metal boxes piled on top one another which were locked with a padlock each. Upon forcing the boxes open, I discovered several guns, armor and amongst, two boxes contained bullets, one filled with hard drugs (heroin) and the other two to my amazement contained some US Dollars which amounted to $23.5M after I and two of the soldiers counted them for several hours. I believed that the boxes are owned or are linked to the Al Qaeda and Ayman al-Zawahiri.
 
However, I instructed the soldiers that went inside with me to keep this in high secrecy, so that we could have the money to our selves and they all agreed to the plan. We have hidden the two boxes that containing the US dollars in a safe and untraced location ready to get them out of this country and this is where you come in. 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 till my assignment here elapses.
 
We cannot afford to leave the boxes here for any reason, since Iraq is getting unsafe and dangerous everyday despite how our president is handling issues here. We have no idea what could happen next as everything remains inconclusive at this point.
 
I am aware of what your thoughts would be next but don’t conclude that yet because I am willing to guard and give you every logistics plans to follow in order to have hitch free in this deal. Also, I am not from any authority that would want to set you up just that I need your help and I assure you that this deal is 100% risk free Please, I want you to assure me that you are going to keeping this matter topmost secret within us. Please reply me on this email:wcaptjohnson@sifymail.com
 
I wait to hear from you so urgent.
 
My Sincere Regards,
William Johnson


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