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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: "STUART" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <stuart_rogers@rediffmail.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 07:33:23 -0500
Subject: YES YOU CAN

 
I  saw  your  profile  and  I  decided  to  reveal  this  secret  to  you,  I  am  Rogers  Stuart,  personal  air  pilot  to  the  late  Muammar  Gaddafi  of  Libya.  Before  a  revolt  pushed  him  out  from  power  in  August  2012,  he  trusted  me  and  instructed  me  to  purchase  ammunition  from  his  Russia  business  man  with  some  funds,  this  funds  was  originally  deposited  in  a  secret  finance  house.
 
 
I  came  to  London  here  in  preparation  of  going  to  Russia  suddenly  I  saw  a  breaking  news  at  CNN  that  he  was  captured  and  killed  immediately,  right  now  I  am  the  only  one  who  knows  about  this  fund.  I  have  served  this  man  for  6  years;  I  would  have  been  also  dead  if  it  was  not  that  he  sent  me  to  go  for  this  mission.  Sending  me  out  of  Libya  to  go  and  purchase  ammunition  saved  my  life.  I  want  to  transfer  the  funds  to  your  country  and  invest  it  in  ! any  business  that 
 
 
I  want  you  to  work  with  me  and  receive  the  funds  in  your  country,  I  am  also  very  lucky  that  my  dealings  with  him  are  top  priority  secret  because  no  one  knows  about  the  funds.  You  are  the  only  person  am  revealing  this  secret  to,  so  you  have  to  keep  it  between  me  and  you.
 
 
As  a  Canadian  I  have  access  to  invest  this  money  in  my  country  but  since  everybody  knew  I  was  the  personal  Pilot  to  him,  the  world  might  raise  Eye  Brow  if  should  I  single  handedly  withdraw  and  invest  this  whole  money  because  it’s  too  huge  for  a  single  individual  like  me  hence  my  contacting  you.  I  will  tell  you  how  much  is  involved  as  soon  as  I  get  your  reply;  I  need  your  immediate  reply  now.
 
 
Rogers  Stuart.

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