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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: "Stevenson Silva" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <stevenson.silva@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 06:16:30 +1000
Subject: RE: ENQUIRY

Hello,
 
 
How is everything going, I hope great?
 
 
Though i have not considered this medium to be the best manner to have approached you on this issue being that the internet has been greatly abused over the recent years and is very unsecured for information of vital importance.
 
 
 
I have decided to take the chance seeing that no other means could have been faster and more efficient than the E-mail. I write to you irrespective of the fact you do not know me,but please do consider this letter as a request from a brother in dire need of assistance.
 
 
 
MY name is Silva Stevenson(Sgt)an American soldier, I am serving in the
military of the 1st Armored Division here in Syria
 
 
During one of our rescue Mission we came across a safe that contains the total sum of $21,000,000 (Twenty one
Million Us Dollars) that belongs to the revolutionaries, which I believe they use in buying weapons and ammunition, and it was agreed by all party
present that the money will be shared amongst us.
 
 
Out of the total fund my share was $3,000,000 (Three Million US Dollars).
 
 
I am seeking your assistance to evacuate my share of the money, which is $3,000,000 out of here to you, in as much as you can assure me that my own share will be safe in your care until I complete my service here.Because i cannot afford to move it to my country for security reasons.
 
 
 
This is no stolen money,and there are no dangers involved, as I have made arrangements with the security company to move the fund to any of my choosing destination.
I shall be compensating you with US$500,000.00 ( Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) on final conclusion of this project,while the rest shall be for me for my investment purposes.
 
 
One passionate appeal I will make to you is not to discuss this matter with a third party, should you have reasons to reject this offer, please destroy this e-mail as any leakage of this information will be too bad for me.
 
 
Please if this proposal is acceptable by you, kindly send me an e-mail signifying your interest including your most confidential telephone numbers for quick communication also your home address where the fund would be delivered.
 
 
 
As soon as I receive your email with the information, I will furnish you with full details on when and how the fund shall be delivered to you by the diplomat and he will make a contact with you before anything move.
 
 
Waiting for your urgent reply.
 
 
Best regards,
Sgt. Silva Stevenson
 

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