419 scam: "Mrs Sarah Thompson" <sarah.thompson@us.army.mil> Hello

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- st1923p@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs Sarah Thompson" <sarah.thompson@us.army.mil>
Reply-To: st1923p@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:03:11 -0000 (GMT)
Subject: Hello

Dear Friend,

With a very desperate need for assistance,I have summed up courage to
contact you.I am presently in Afghanistan with the USA marine platoon;I
found your contact particulars in an Address journal.I am seeking your
assistance to evacuate the sum of $900,000.00(Nine hundred thousand
dollars)to you,as far as I can be assured that it will be safe in your
care until I complete my service here.This is no stolen money,and
there are no dangers involved.

SOURCE OF MONEY:

Some money in various currencies was discovered concealed in barrels
with piles of weapons and ammunition's at a location during a rescue
operation,and it was agreed by all party present that the money be
shared amongst us,this was quite an illegal thing to do,but I tell
you what? No compensation can make up for the risks we have taken
with our lives in this hell hole.

The above figure was given to me as my share,and to conceal this
kind of money became a problem for me,so with the help of a German
contact working here,and his office enjoys some immunity,I was able
to get the package out to a safe location entirely out of trouble
spot.He does not know the real contents of the package,and believes
that it belongs to an American who died in an air raid,and before
giving up,trusted me to hand over the package to his family.

There is a secured way of getting the package out to a safer country
for you to pick up,and i will discuss this with you when I am sure
that you are willing to assist me.One passionate appeal I will make
to you is not to discuss this matter with a third party,should you
have reasons to reject this offer.please destroy this mail as any
leakage of this information will be too bad for us.

I do not know for how long we will remain here but hopefully before the
year runs out,I have survived 2 suicide bomb attacks by the special
grace of God,this and other reasons I will mention later has
prompted me to reach out for help.

Respectfully,

Sgt. Sarah Thompson
st1923p@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam