419 scam: "Sgt. Marco Giras" <sunpol@brain.net.pk> Contact me via my private box

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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- marcogiras101@mail.com (Mail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Sgt. Marco Giras" <sunpol@brain.net.pk>
Reply-To: <marcogiras101@mail.com>
Date: Thu, 07 Jan 2016 03:39:13 -0800
Subject: Contact me via my private box

Dear Friend,

Good day and compliments, I know this letter will definitely come to
you as a huge surprise, but I implore you to take the time to go through
it carefully as the decision you make will go a long way to determine my
future and continued existence. Please allow me to introduce myself. I
am Sgt. Marco Giras, a US serving in the Hqs. Multinational Corps Iraq,
III Corps-Camp Victory, which Patrols the Baghdad province. I am
desperately in need of assistance and I have summoned up courage to
contact you. I am presently in Iraq and I found your contact particulars
in an internet address journal. I am seeking your assistance to evacuate
the sum of $12,570,000 (Twelve million Five Hundred and Seventy Thousand
USD) to the States or any safe country of your choice, as far as I can
be assured that it will be safe in your care until I complete my service
here. This is no stolen money and there are no dangers involved.

I have now found a secured way of getting the package out of Iraq for
you to pick it up. I do not know for how long I will remain here as I
have been lucky to have survived 2 suicide bomb attacks by Pure Divine
intervention. This and other reasons put into consideration have
prompted me to reach out for help. If it might be of interest to you
then Endeavour to contact me and we would work out the necessary
formalities, but I pray that you are discreet about this
mutuallybenefiting relationship.

Contact me via my private box: marcogiras101@mail.com so that I can
furnish you with more details.

Respectfully,
Sgt. Marco Giras

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam