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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: "CAPTAIN. JOHN ANTHONY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <captjohn201@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2017 11:44:10 -0700
Subject: PLEASE READ AND REPLY

Greetings

I am sorry to encroach into your privacy in this manner.
I find it pleasurable to
offer you my partnership in business. Please, I really want to solicit
your attention to receive money on my behalf. I am Capt. John Anthony,
an officer in the US Army, and also a West Point Graduate presently
serving in the Military with the 82nd AirBorne Division Peace keeping
force currently deployed in Afghanistan. We were moved to Afghanistan
from IRAQ as the last batch just left, and I really need your help in
assisting me with the safe keeping of two military trunk boxes.
Anywhere you are i will direct the consignment to be shipped there
from IRAQ.
I HOPE YOU CAN BE TRUSTED ?.

You will be rewarded handsomely if you could help me secure the funds
until I conclude my service here in Afghanistan.

If you can be trusted, I will explain further when I get a response
from you today.

Expecting your early reply! Via captjohn201@gmail.com

God bless you.

Regards,

Capt.John Anthony

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