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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: "Rick" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <SIRICKX1@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2016 17:18:49 -0400
Subject: ...your helping hand is needed here...test PFCVRGNUPF



Hello,

Thank you very much for your reply. I appreciate your effort towards helping me. However, can I trust you with a box of fund that was discovered by the Marine Patrol Team headed by me in Afghanistan since 2003? It contains Three million five hundred thousand dollars and 45KG gold bars ($3.5m and 45KG Gold bars) which was believed to be for the Taliban to sponsor the never-ending war in the country.

I have taken control of the box more than 10 years now. I managed to move the box containing the fund and gold out of Afghanistan through Diplomatic Immunity to a Security company in West Africa and the box has been deposited as family treasure for security reasons.

After 22 years of serving in the Army as a sergeant, I wish to retire from the service. I hereby seek for your partnership. Please stand as my Foreign Investor to receive the entire funds on my behalf until my retirement.

Am ready to offer you up to 15 percent of the total business proceeds.

Thank you very much and have a nice day.

Sincerely,

Richardson

HUGBZELFZUIKDLHNEIPLSXSELSYZJFGJIRNCQG

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