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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: Greg Wilson <gregwilly1@msn.com>
Reply-To: <gregwils2009@msn.com>
Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 19:32:31 +0000
Subject: Your Consent



Dear Friend,

I know you would be surprised to read from someone relatively unknown
to you before now. My name is Greg Wilson, a master sgt. of The U.S. Marine,
deployed to Iraq in the beginning of the war in 2003.

I would like to share some highly personal classified information about my personal
experience and role which I played in the pursuit of my career serving under the U.S ARMY
which was at the fore-front of the war in Iraq. Though, I would like to hold back certain information
for security reasons for now until you have found time to visit the BBC website stated below to
enable you have insight regarding what I intend to share with you, believing that it would be of your
desired interest in one way or the other. Here is a BBC news listing that confirms what I share with you.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm

Also, could you get back to me having visited the above website to enable us discuss
in a more vivid manner to the best of your understanding. I must say that I'm very
uncomfortable sending this message to you without knowing truly if you would
misconstrue the importance and decide to go public.In this regards,I will not hold
back to say that the essence of this letter is strictly for mutual benefit of you
and I and nothing more.I will be more vivid and coherent in my next email in this
regards.

Meanwhile,could you send me a mail confirming you have visited the site and
understood my intentions,Standing by for your response.

Best regards,
Sgt Greg Wilson

Anti-fraud resources: