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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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <mailing.email20162@inbox.lv>
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2016 21:53:55 +0200
Subject: I want to solicit your attention

I  am  sorry  to  encroach  into  your  privacy  in  this  manner,  I  want  to  solicit  your  attention  to  assist  me  receive  two  (2)  trunk  boxes  on  my  behalf.

I  am  an  officer  in  the  USA  Army  and  currently  in  Baghdad  with  the  Combat  Support  Squad,  US  Base  Camp,  Speicher  -  Baghdad,  Iraq.  I  am  on  my  3rd  deployment  to  combat  war  zones.  I  am  also  among  the  squad  that  will  be  re-deployed  to  Afghanistan  in  about  a  fortnight  and  in  view  of  this,  I  urgently  need  your  help  in  assisting  me  receive  for  safe  keeping  of  two  (2)    trunk  boxes  containing  some  monies.

The  source:

I  intentionally  leave  out  some  privilege  information  about  me  as  well  as  the  modalities  on  how  we'll  realize  the  safe  shipment  of  the  boxes  to  you  without  the  breach  of  the  law.

If  you  can  be  trusted,  I  will  explain  further  when  i  get  a  response  from  you  along  with  your  full  contact  details.

Best  Regards,

US  Army

Base  Camp

Speicher  -  Baghdad,

Iraq.

 

Anti-fraud resources: