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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: "Sgt.Monica Brown" <monicb3@gmail.com>
Reply-To: sgt.usarmy@mail.com
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 22:54:35 -0700
Subject: PLEASE REPLY ASAP!

Hello Dear,
My Name is Monica Brown, i hope all is well with you?
Please i need your assistance.
I am a soldier working as a United Nations peace keeping trooper
in Afghanistan,on war against terrorism. I have in my possession the
sum of $4.5million US Dollars, Which i made here in Afghanistan,I
deposited this money with a Red Cross agent.I want you to stand as my
beneficiary and receive the fund and keep it safe so that as soon as
am through with my mission here in Afghanistan,you will assist me to
invest it in a good profitable venture,I will give you 30 % of the
total money for your assistance after you have received the money,i
intend to donate 10% to Charity,10% will be used in offsetting any
expenses incurred in the process,while 50% is for investment.
Please write back,so that i can send you the information where the
money is been deposited,your urgent reply is needed.
Yours,
Sgt.Monica Brown.

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