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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "CAPT. GILBERT LEROY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <capt_gilbertleroy@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Mon, 11 Mar 2013 17:54:07 -0800
Subject: GOOD-DAY

GREETINGS TO YOU MY FRIEND,
 
I HOPE THIS FINDS YOU IN BEST OF HEALTH. MY NAME IS CAPT. GILBERT LEROY, AN AMERICAN SOLDIER, PRESENTLY SERVING WITH THE ARMY’S 3RD INFANTRY DIVISION HERE IN AFGHANISTAN, WITH A VERY DESPERATE NEED FOR ASSISTANCE. I AM SEEKING YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE TO MOVE THE SUM OF US$5,000,000.00 (FIVE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) TO A SECURE LOCATION.
SOURCE OF MONEY:
 
WHILE SERVING IN IRAQ  BEFORE THE WAR WAS OFFICIALLY DECLARED OVER SOME MONEY IN VARIOUS CURRENCIES WAS DISCOVERED IN BARRELS AT A FARMHOUSE NEAR ONE OF SADDAM HUSSEIN'S OLD PALACES IN TIKRIT-IRAQ DURING A RESCUE OPERATION, THE ABOVE FIGURE WAS GIVEN TO ME AS MY SHARE, AND TO CONCEAL THIS KIND OF MONEY BECAME A PROBLEM FOR ME, SO WITH THE HELP OF A BRITISH SECURITY COMPANY WORKING HERE AND HIS OFFICE ENJOYING SOME IMMUNITY, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE PACKAGES OUT TO A SAFE LOCATION ENTIRELY OUT OF TROUBLE SPOT AND LODGED THEM IN THE VAULT OF THE SECURITY COMPANY UNDER THE IMPRESSION OF “PERSONAL VALUABLES”.
 
BUT WITH THE PROPOSED PLAN TO END COMBAT OPERATIONS NEXT YEAR HERE IN AFGHANISTAN BY PRESIDENT BARRACK OBAMA, I DECIDED TO MOVE THIS MONEY TO YOU FOR SAFEKEEPING. BELIEVE ME; IF YOU WERE IN MY BOOTS AND YOU CAME ACROSS SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY, U'D DO THE SAME SHIT.THE SECURITY COMPANY WILL ASSIST US IN MOVING THE PACKAGES TO YOU. I JUST SENT THEM AN EMAIL TO EXPEDITE ACTION.I GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL BE EXECUTED UNDER A LEGITIMATE PLATFORM THAT WILL PROTECT YOU FROM ANY BREACH OF THE LAW AS IT IS A 100% RISK FREE VENTURE.KINDLY INDICATE YOUR INTEREST IN ASSISTING A FELLOW AMERICAN BY PROVIDING THE INFORMATION AS STATED BELOW.
 
FULL NAME------------------
FULL ADDRESS, -----------------
CELL PHONE NUMBER----------
AGE------------------
OCCUPATION/PROFESSION ----------
 
I NEED YOU TO CONFIRM TO ME YOUR PERCENTAGE OR HOW MUCH YOU WILL TAKE FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND FOR THE CHARITY IN YOUR NEXT MAIL TO ME, WHICH SHOULD BE AS SOON AS YOU GET THIS MAIL. I PROPOSE 25% FOR YOU, AND 15% FOR CHARITY. I HONESTLY WANT THIS MATTER TO BE RESOLVED ASAP.PLEASE REPLY VIA THIS EMAIL:captgilbertleroy121@live.com
 
GOD BLESS,
CAPT. GILBERT LEROY

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