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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "CAPT. ANDREA HARMON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <andreaharmon157@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2017 20:59:04 +0100
Subject: CAN I TRUST YOU?

My Dear Friend,
 
My name is CAPT.Andrea Harmon. I am a war veteran with the United
Nations troop in Afghanistan on war against terrorism. I served in the
1st Armored Division in Kabul. Based on the United States legislative
and executive decision for withdrawing troops from Iraq, I have been
redeployed to come and work in Kabul on the platform of North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO). Our mission is to help beef up terrorist
targeted states, mostly the United States and the European Union on
the war against terrorism.
 
On the other hand, I want to inform you that I and my partner (Trooper
James Anthony Leverett) have the sum of 43Million USD, which we got
from a crude oil deal in Iraq before he was killed by an explosion
while on a vehicle patrol. Due to this incident, I want you to receive
these funds on my behalf as far as I can be assured that my share will
be safe in your care until I complete my service here(in Afghanistan)
and come over to meet with you. Since we are working here on Official
capacity, I cannot keep these funds hence my contacting you.
 
I guarantee and ensure you that this is a risk free deal. I want you
to know that we have successfully moved these funds out with the help
of a Red Cross agent, I will inform you where the fund is as I hear
back from you. All i want  is your acceptance to receive these funds
on my behalf, Since the death of my partner, my life is not guaranteed
here anymore, so I have decided to share these funds with you, than
the funds being dumped at a great risk.
 
I want you to tell me how much you will take from this money for the
assistance you will give to me. One passionate appeal I will make to
you is not to discuss this matter with anybody, should you have
reasons to reject this offer, please and please destroy this message
as any leakage of this information will be too bad for us as soldiers
here in Afghanistan. I do not know how long we will remain here, and I
have been shot, wounded and survived so many suicide bomb attacks,
this and other reasons I will mention later to you.  I honestly want
this matter to be resolved immediately, please contact me as soon as
possible on my e-mail address which is my only way of communication
for now.
 
Regards,
CAPT. ANDREA HARMON
E-MAIL:  andreaharmon157@gmail.com

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