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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: "Major Wayne Walter." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <major.waynewaltermajor@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2015 09:57:44 +0200
Subject: investment

Hello,

My name is Major Wayne Walter. I am an American soldier, presently in Iraq for the protection of the US embassy and advise the Iraqi army in relation to the advance of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). With a very desperate need for assistance, I have decided to contact you.

I found your contact details in an address journal. I am seeking your kind assistance to move the sum of (US$38,000,000.00) Thirty eight Million United States Dollars to you, as far as I can be assured that my share will be safe in your care until I complete my service here, this is no stolen money, and there is no danger involved.


Some money in various currencies was discovered in barrels at a farmhouse during a rescue operation we conducted in one of the attacks by ISIS, and it was agreed by my colleagues and I that some part of this money be shared among us before informing anybody about it. No compensation can make up for the risk we have taken with our lives in this part of the world.

The above figure was given to me as my share, and to conceal this kind of money became a problem for me, so with the help of a British doctor working with Red Cross, I was able to get the package out to a safe location entirely out of trouble spot.

I have now found a much secured way of getting the package out to you for pick up, and I will discuss this with you when I am sure that you are willing to assist me. I am ready to compensate you with 30% of the $38 million USD for your assistance. 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 destroy this message as any disclosure of this information will be too bad for my colleagues and I.

I do not know how long we will remain here, and I have been shot, wounded and survived two suicide bomb attacks by the special grace of God, this and other reasons I will mention later has prompted me to reach out for help, I honestly want this matter to be resolved immediately.

Please contact me as soon as possible only through this email with the following details:

Full Name:
Full Address:
Tel/cell numbers:
Occupation:

God Bless you as I look forward to your positive response.

Truly yours,

Major Wayne Walter.

Anti-fraud resources: