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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 Oscar brown" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sgtoscarbrw11@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:34:39 -0700
Subject: Urgency Please

Hello,
How are you and your family, i sincerely hope all is well? My names are staff sergeant Oscar David Brown; i am an American soldier serving in the US military in Iraq with the army's 3rd infantry division, with a desperate need for an Urgent assistance which gave me the courage to contact you. I honestly want this deal to be resolved immediately,
Please, contact me as soon as possible through my private and confidential email address: sgtoscarbrw11@aol.com.
Thanks and best regards.
Sgt Oscar Brown.

Anti-fraud resources: