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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: "Chris Marshall" <chrislarry17@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: chris_marshall10@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2011 02:57:32 +0100
Subject: Urgent Assitant Needed Contact Chris In Iraq


- This mail is in HTML. Some elements may be ommited in plain text. -

Dear Friend,
I need your help to take care of a very urgent personal matter on my behalf, and will appreciate if you can give me an opportunity to discuss that with you.
I will just give my name as for Chris I am stationed in one of the Southern cities of Iraq, I will tell you more when I consider it safe to disclose my identity and other
information.
The referenced matter will provide me and you an opportunity of having access to about US$ 18.7 M in just a couple of days, with little or no risks or any form of trouble/scandals either now or in future, as long as we adhere to an already projected plan. I will send necessary details when I receive your response with some assurances that you will protect my identity and would be honest with me.
Thank you in advance for your understanding.
Best Wishes,
Chris

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