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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: "Major Goodman Foster" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <major.foster1@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 9 Aug 2011 09:42:46 -0700
Subject: Re: An Urgent Letter From Major Goodman.

With Due Respect,
Sincerely speaking, I want to let you know that I have been on course and based on this fact,
I would like to Establish a relationship, Which will yield dividends in due course.
Before I continue, let me introduce myself to you, I am Major Goodman Foster. in charge of
Multi-National Division with the U.S. troops in Baghdad, was fighting against terrorism.
Effectively, the United States legislative and executive decision for withdrawing troops from
Iraq, i have to put in my deployment and go into business world in your country. I have now in
my possession the sum of Five Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars (USD $ 5.5M ) which was
recovered from one of our raids on terrorists camps here in Iraq, because they keep most of
their money at home for evil activities Which they normally get through illegal deals on crude
oil. Based on the suffering we undergo here some of Us Do meet such opportunities. It happened
that in our last raid week we raided one of the strong base here last terrorist in Iraq and we
recovered this huge sum.
This box of money have been deposited with the RED CROSS OFFICE here
in Baghdad, informing them that contacts are been made ??for its safe keeping 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. I can not
parade as military personnel in such amount, 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 to you as the beneficiary. If you are interested, then let me know so I can proceed to
register your name as the beneficiary as time is very important to me. I am doing this on trust,
you should understand that as trained military personnel, intact, I will always be carefully in
my dealings with everything.
My proposal is that after you receive the funds, It would be
shared as follows, (1) 35% to you as commission for your co-operation and assistance in
Facilitating the transfer, while the remaining 60% belongs to me and my military colleagues
then 5% for any expenses incurred . You will be free to take out your commission immediately
after the money hits your country. Since my objective is to invest the money in a foreign
country, it would be appreciated if you could also help me with advices and direction on
investing into profitable / lucrative ventures in your country like real estate properties
and stock markets for an additional 5%. The only access we have is radio telephone 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, Barrack Obama whose keen interest is to call us back home
soon. Please do consider my proposal and get back to me if you are interested and as this will
not take more than (5) Five working days to be finalized.
Regards,
Major Goodman Foster. (major.foster1@hotmail.com)
 

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