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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: "Sgt. Smith" (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2010 02:58:26 +0100
Subject: Partner with me

Good Day,

How are you and your family? Hope all is well.

My name is (Sgt.1st class) Sgt. Micheal Smith; I am an American soldier,serving in the military with the Army's 3rd infantry division here in Afghanistan ; I am with a very desperate need for assistance, I have summed up courage to contact you. I found your contact particulars in an address journal.

I am seeking your kind assistance to move the sum of ($10, 000, 000, 00 USD)Ten Million United States Dollars to you in as far as I can be assured that myshare will be safe in your care until I complete my service here. You will findmore about this fund on the link below:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm

I believe that we may be leaving Afghanistan soon as promised by our new president Barack obama. Please, if you can help me with these funds get back
to me for more detail and I will let you know more, what this transaction hold.

Yours-in-service,

Sgt. Smith

Anti-fraud resources: