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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: "Commandant Micheal Brown" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <michaelbrown23@live.com>
Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2014 02:54:13 +0100
Subject: I need your Urgent Assistance in shipping this funds out of camp.

Hello,


My name is Cmd Micheal Brown, a former member of the 3rd Infantry Division of the United States Army deployed to Iraq during the War, Now serving with the US Army Special Forces West Africa, based on my request i will like you to please take your time to read the news article bellow.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm

Now i happen to be one of the soldiers in the news that found the barrels containing all the money and i have a very good business proposal for you, if you are interested you will make 3 Million Dollars in few days, i found a very reliable way to ship Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars(US$12,500 Million) to any destination of my choice and with this opportunity all i need is someone honest and capable to receive the Money and keep it safe till we are able to meet in person. Everything is very simple, all you have to do is receive the 12.5 Million Dollars, take out your 3 Million and keep the rest safe till i am able to meet you in few Months.


Waiting to hear from you.
Cmd. Micheal Brown

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