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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: "Sergent Terry Allan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sgt.terryallan52@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2010 13:55:51 -0700
Subject: Re:You Need To Read This Mail 1

Dear Good Friend,
 
My name is Sgt Terry Allan and am representing my superiors in the United States 3rd Infantry Division on Peace Keeping Mission in Iraq whom you will only know after the successful execution of this deal am asked to introduce to you now.
 
We are the troop that toppled the late Saddam Hussein and in one of our operation in Baghdad, we stumbled on Huge Cash (Dollars and Euro) stacked in TRUNK BOXES worth over US$200 Million belonging to the late Dictator.
 
But before those funds were shown to World Press, that is (BBC, VOA, FOX News, Sky News, Aljazeera, INA-Iraqi News Agency etc) my 2 Senior Commanders have already kept aside 2 of those TRUNK BOXES worth about US$26 Million Dollars in a SECURITY & DIPLOMATIC ORGANIZATION as MILITARY HARDWARES. Please Check the website below for more details.
 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm
 
Now, They plan to ship this money as military cargo to a safe hand for INVESTMENT under GOOD DIPLOMATIC ARRANGEMENT. I am contacting you in strict confidence as all arrangements for its successful delivery has been put in place. All I need from you is to receive the cargo from this delegated diplomat in your Doorstep over there in your Country and Help us Invest the Money until the War in Iraq is Over and we are free to travel anywhere.
 
You will take 20% of this Money which is US$5.2 Million Dollars as your COMMISSION for the Help you are rendering, You will also take out 5% which is US$1.3 Million Dollars to cover any kind of Expenses you may incure while doing this job for us, Expenses like Hotel Bills, Telephone Bills, Air Tickets, Car Hire Services, Any Kind of Charges/Fees paid, while you will Invest the Rest 75% which is about US$19.5 Million Dollars on Stock, Real Estate Property and May be Hotel.
 
For security reasons, all communication/Correspondences should be by Email for now.
 
I await your urgent response where I will further give you more details on what next to do.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Sgt. Terry Allan.

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