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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.Mark Edwards" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sgtmarkedward221@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2016 06:45:04 -0700
Subject: I Sincerely Write To seek your Cooperation And Trust

From Sgt.Edwards
Dear Sir/Madam
 
My Name is Sgt.Mark Edwards.  I am an American soldier, serving in the US Military of the Army 1st Armored Division in Afghanistan. I have a very desperate need for your help.I am seeking your kind assistance to move the sum of US$5.5 million and I have My Pay Checks , My Awards and Bars of Gold I got at the war zone in that box.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. It will be kept with you until I complete my service here in Afghanistan. I want you to invest it on my behalf until I come back from Afghanistan.
 
SOURCE OF MONEY:
 
Some money in US DOLLARS was discovered and concealed in barrels at a location in helman province when we conducted a foot patrol and it was agreed by all party present that the money be shared among us.This might appear as an illegal thing to do but I tell you what? No compensation can make up for the risks we have taken with our lives in this hellhole.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 Canadian contact working with the UN here (his office enjoys some immunity) I was able to get the package out to a safe location entirely out of trouble spot.
 
 
He does not know the real contents of the package as he believes that it belongs to an American who died in an air raid, who before giving up trusted me to hand over the package to his close relative.I have now found a secured way of getting the package out of Afghanistan for you to pick up. I do not know  how long I will remain.
 
Please assist me to bring this money out of Afghanistan.  I will give you details when you reply.  If you have reasons to reject this offer, please destroy this message as any leakage of this information will be too bad for the US Soldiers here in Afghanistan.I shall give you more details when you reply. My only safe way of communication is by email.you are required to provide with the following information below:
 
Full legal name:
Full contact address:
Tell/Mobile no:
Copy of your Valid Identification:
Occupation and Position:
 
Please ensure to reply via my private e-mail address: sgtmarkedward221@gmail.com
 
Sincerely,
Sgt.Mark Edwards,
1AD 1BCT G3,
IRMO Operations,
US Army.
 

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