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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: "Smith Martins" <smithmartins10@yahoo.com.hk> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:19:00 +0000
Subject: Dear Friend

Dear Friend,


I do foresee the surprise this letter will bring to you as it comes from a stranger,but be assured that it comes with the best of intentions.I got your contact from a search into the Internet and was inspired to seek your co-operation.I am aware of the risks involved in sending this letter by email,therefore i ask that you consider the factors below and keep it strictly confidential.


My name is Sgt. Smith Martins; I am an American soldier with Swiss background, serving in the military with the army's 3rd infantry division. With a very desperate need for assistance, I have summed up courage to contact you. I found your contact particulars in an address journal. I am seeking your kind assistance to move the sum of (US$14,600,000) Fourteen Million Six Hundred Thousand United States Dollars to you, as far as I can be assured that my share will be safe in your care until I complete my service here, this is no stolen money, and there is no danger involved. Source of money:Some money in various currencies was discovered in barrels at a farmhouse near one of Saddam?s old palaces in Tikrit-Iraq during a rescue operation, and it was agreed by staff Sgt Kenneth Buff and I that some part of this money be shared among both of us before informing anybody about it since both of us saw the money first. This was quite an illegal thing to do, but I tell you what? No compe!
!nsation can make up for the risk we have taken with our lives in this hell hole. Of which my brother in-law was killed by a road side bomb.

You will find the story of this money on the web address below;

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

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 British contact working here and his office enjoy 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 a British/American medical doctor who died in a raid here in Iraq, and before giving up, trusted me to hand over the package to his family in united states.

I have now found a much secured way of getting the package out of Iraq to your country for you to pick up, and I will discuss this with you when I am sure that you are willing to assist me. 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 soldier's here in Iraq. I do not know how long we will remain here, and I have been shot, wounded and survived two 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, I honestly want this matter to be resolved immediately, All I require is your honest co-operation with a ready hand, focused mind and a sincere heart.If you are interested please do contact me immediately through my email
:smithmartins20@yahoo.com.hk which is so that I can educate you further for us to proceed swiftly, please contact me as soon as possible as my only means of communication is through email and do remember to include the followings: YOUR FULL NAMES, PHYSICAL ADDRESS,TELEPHONE and MOBILE NUMBER (if any).
I wait to hear from you ASAP.
Anticipating an urgent response from you.
Best regards,
God Bless
Smith Martins (SGT).



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