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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: "Douglas MacArthur" <info@dotpersonnel.com>
Reply-To: douglasmacarthur1111@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2015 00:39:06 +0000
Subject: CAN I TRUST YOU

Dear sir /madam,

My name is Douglas MacArthur, a (CSM) in the U.S Army presently serving in Afghanistan with the Army 3RD Infantry Division presently on standby in the Middle East.During one of our rescue operation sometimes ago in (IRAQ),A consignment containing  a lot of money was Seized from one of top Saddam Hussein’s aide by my battalion in Baghdad during the war in Iraq,many arms and plenty cash in U.S. dollars and pounds where also discovered.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm
 
It was agreed by Staff Sgt.Kenneth Buff and myself that some part of this money be shared between both of us before informing anybody about it since we both saw the money first, USD5,000.000.00 (FIVE Million US Dollars) was given to me as my own share of the Money,and the rest of it was given to the Iraqi Government and ever since the record of the Money has been completely erased by the New Government. I tell you what! No compens ation can make up for the risk we have taken with our lives.

I had to wait for this long to contact someone for help.I have summed up courage to contact you via email this medium is personally considered safest and the cheapest means of reaching out to you from the U.S.Military base here in the Middle East.From all indications you are God sent, with the way and how lucky I was to get your e-mail contact address from the U.S. military base library address journal through my online search just a few minutes ago.

I had personally arranged the Money in a consignment as my personal effect,and is presently with a Delivery company and is now ready to be transported,all necessary procedures and protocols will be duly followed ,this is a risk free delivery.

Am still in ACTIVE DUTY, i cannot involve in full participation of the delivery, but,am legally permitted to offset the Charges and the delivery expense of my personal effect, which am ready to cover, Please, i want you to help me receive this Consignment in your home all that i required is your Sincerity, honesty and truthfulness to help me keep the funds till am relief of my duty to meet with you soon.

But,my Question is 'CAN I TRUST YOU"?.In other words, I'm seeking your kind assistance to move the sum of US$5M to you as far as I can be assured that my share will be safe in your care until I complete my service here in (AFGHANISTAN) before the end of the month.You will be rewarded with 20% of this funds for your help,

Please respond for further details.
 
Sincerely,
Douglas MacArthur



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