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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: "Rachel Washburn" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <rachelwashbur@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2016 06:17:41 -0500
Subject: Assist Please...

Darling,
 
    My name remains Rachel Washburn  from United State Of America, born and breaded in Philadelphia, a US soldier serving in Afghanistan… l had an early unsuccessful marriage but currently divorced  with a baby girl, who is living with her Nanny, in Picatinny Arsenal Morris County, New Jersey in US Army Base.
 
Presently i am in Afghanistan for about one and half years now, but my assignment will soon be over.
 
Well, I got your contact during my desperate search for a TRUSTWORTHY nice person like you who will be my future Lovely darling if the Awaiting CONFIDENTIAL THING in STOCK works out between us…
I have Fourteen Million Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand United State Dollars (USD14.75M) which was my share of money seized from the Taliban's here in Afghanistan.
 
I succeeded in my  struggle and smuggled the money out to a coded security company in Europe. And the money was deposited in your name at the security company.
Meanwhile, i will offer you 27% of the money for helping me keep the money, if you did not like to marry me.
 
So Please Love, you will soon see me in your country for official marriage engagement and wedding immediately the money gets to you, as i will tender my resignation and resign.
 
So please Darling, i want you to TRUTHFULLY tell me more about yourself, family and also send to me your current location, house/office address, phone number, present pictures for me to have a clear view of you.
 
I have trust and confidence in you hence my approach to you due to my day to day official engagements. I cannot afford to move out of Afghanistan at the moment and i decide to trust and believe in you for the safe keeping of this money.
 
I am waiting for your reply as soon as possible.                      
Please don’t forget as a friend to always pray for my safety down here in Afghanistan.
 
Yours sincerely Friend,
                                
Rachel Washburn
 
 
 

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