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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: "Capt,Richard Phillips." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <aui.hung@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2014 11:11:59 -0800
Subject: URGENT MATTER

 
Capt,Richard Phillips.
 
I am a Captain with the United Nations troop in syria,on war against terrorism.
 
Based on the United States legislative and executive decision for withdrawing troops from syria, I have been deployed to work in syria military base.
Our mission is to help beef up terrorist targeted countries. On the other hand I want to inform you that I have in my possession the sum of (18.5 million USD). which i got from crude oil deal here in syria. I deposited this money with a red cross agent informing him that we are making contact for the real owner of the money. It is under my power to approve whoever comes forth for this money, This is where you come in.
I need someone I could trust. If you accept,I will transfer the money to you, where you will be the beneficiary because I am a uniformed person and I cannot be parading such an amount so I need to present someone as the beneficiary.
 
I am an American and an intelligence officer for that I have a 100% authentic means of transferring the money through a private diplomatic courier service . I just need your acceptance and all is done. Please if you are interested in this transaction I will send you the complete details you need for us to carry out this transaction successfully. I decided to find someone that is real and not imaginary and that is why I went to a secured  site where I can be sure that the person is real.
I believe I can trust you. where we are now we can only communicate through our military communication facilities which is secured so nobody can monitor our emails, then I can explain in details to you.I will only reach you through email because our calls might be monitored. I just have to be sure whom I am dealing with.
 
If you are interested please send me your personal mobile number so I can call you for further inquiries when I am out of our military network. I am writing from a fresh email account so if you are not interested do not reply to this email and please delete this message,if no response after 3days I will then search for someone else.
 
I await for your contact details so we can go on. In less than 5 days the money should have been noted on your account and I will come over for my money as soon as i can. I will give to you 50% of the sum and 50% is for me. I hope I am being fair on this deal.
Get back to me on my email for more directives 
Regards,
Capt,Richard Phillips.

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