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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: "Mayer Hartmann" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mayerhar@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Tue, 30 Mar 2010 19:15:55 +0200
Subject: Re : Once i confirm

Dear Sir

I want to trust you with this confidential proposal. Before i continue, let me introduce myself to you,
I am Captain Mayer Hartmann the commander of the Special N.A.T.O coalition force with the United
Nation troops in Iraq,on war against terrorism.My country is germany. I have now in my possession
the sum of Six million US Dollars which was recovered from one of our raids on terrorists camps here in Iraq.

This box of money have been deposited with the RED CROSS OFFICE here in Baghdad As a diplomatic
luguage for sfe keep and to make contacts for its proper use . As the team leader it is under my power
to approve whoever comes forth for this money.

So i need someone i can deal with on trust and that is why i contacted you. so If you accept, I will put
you forward as the beneficiary/owner of the funds and then move the money to you. As a military
personnel i cannot parade such an amount or carry it to my country so i need to present someone as
the beneficiary.I just need your acceptance and all is done.I have a 100% authentic means of transferring
the money through diplomatic courier service to you where arrangements will be made to proceed to your
country.

Once i confirm your interest to my proposal, and your positive reply i will proceed to register your name as
the beneficiary. This money is my life and i am willing to give you 30% of the total sum when the money is
delivered to you. I wait for your response so we can proceed immediately. In less than 7days the money
should be in your safe custody.

The only telephone access we have is radio message which is for our general use and is being monitored,
therefore all communication will be via email till we finish our assignment here and fly straight to your
country to meet you. Thank God that the new President Elect, Barrack Obama whose keen interest is to
call us back home soon."

Regards
Capt Mayer Hartmann

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