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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. Maj. Arthur J. Leak" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <aw4046@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2015 04:59:13 -0800
Subject: DESPERATE ASSISTANCE!!!!!


HELLO

My name is Sgt. Maj. Arthur J. Leak, I'm an American soldier serving
in the military with the Army’s 2nd Infantry division Iraq but now
redeployed to Afghanistan. I have a very desperate need for
assistance and have summed up courage to contact you.I’m seeking your
kind assistance to move the sum of four Million five hundred
United Dollars (US$4.5M) to you as far as I can be assured that my
share will be safe in your care.



SOURCE OF MONEY:
Some money in various currencies were discovered in barrels
at a farmhouse near Saddam’s old palaces in Tikrit-Iraq during
a rescue operation, and it was agreed by Staff Sgt Kenneth Buff and I
that some part of this money be shared between both of us before
informing anybody about it since both of us saw the money first. This does not
sound right to do but I tell you what! No compensation can make up for
the risk we have taken with our lives in this hell hole, of which my
brother in-law was killed by a road side bomb last time.


The above figure was given to me as my share, and to conceal
this kind of money became a problem for me but with the help of a
British contact working here and with his office enjoying some immunity, I
was able to get the package out to a safe location entirely out of
trouble spot.

I have now found a very secured way of getting the package
to you and I will discuss this with you when I ‘m sure that you are
willing to assist me and that the money will be well secured in your hands. I
feel this is the right time to send this money to you.


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, I beg you to destroy
this message as any leakage of this information will be too bad for the
US soldiers in Iraq and even Afghanistan.


I do not know how long we will remain in this war, as each
day looks horrifying with deadly operation and battle against die hard
militants and terrorists. Totally, we lost well over 4,500 men so far
and I have survived two suicide bomb attacks and other forms of attack
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.

May God bless you
Sgt. Maj. Arthur J. Leak

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