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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: "MY FRIEND" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jameslorsatelite004@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2015 12:06:01 +0100
Subject: CAN YOU HELP ME?

My name is Sgt. Patrick Maxwell

Former US Marine Sgt. i was deployed to Anbar Province with my Marine unit in 2006. i left the military with an honorable discharge five years later, but i couldn't stay away from the fighting. I was with Mr Sheikh Jaafar Mustafa, the former Kurdish regional government minister responsible for the pesh merga, and Dillon Hillier of Canada, a fellow foreign volunteer.. Our mission is to help beef up terrorist targeted states, mostly the United States and the European Union on the war against terrorism.

On the other hand, I want to inform you that I and my partner (Farrell II, Shawn M) have the sum of 36.8million USD, which we got from a crude oil deal in Iraq before he was killed by an explosion while on a vehicle patrol.Due to this incident,I want you to receive these funds on my behalf as far as I can be assured that my share will be safe in your care until I complete my service here(in Iraq) and come over to meet with you.Since we are working here as volunteer, I cannot allow this funds to remain in the custody of the International red cross agent regional office in Saint Louis MO,that was why am contacting you, so that we can convince him to move it down to your doorstep.

I guarantee and ensure you that this is a risk free deal.I want you to know that we have successfully moved these funds out from Iraq with the help of a Red Cross agent.The 36.8million dollars is package in 4 trunks boxes, register as family treasure kept in Red Cross aid office Lodge in Saint Louis MO, I just need your acceptance to receive these funds on my behalf,Since the death of my partner, my life is not guaranteed here anymore, so I have decided to share these funds with a reliable and trusted person.

I want you to tell me how much you will take from this money for the assistance you will give to me. One passionate appeal I will make to you is not to discuss this matter with anybody, should you have reasons to reject this offer, please and please destroy this message as any leakage of this information will be too bad for us as soldiers here in Iraq.I do not know how long we will remain here, and I have been shot, wounded and survived so many suicide bomb attacks thankfully, this and other reasons I will mention later have prompted me to reach out for help, I honestly want this matter to be resolved immediately, please contact me as soon as possible on my e-mail address which is my only way of communication for now.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7444083.stm
Regards,

Sgt. Patrick Maxwell

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