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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: "Sgt. Mark Hoopes." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sgt.markhoopes01@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sun, 16 May 2010 01:24:43 -0700
Subject: Re: ALL I NEED IS YOUR TRUST.

Dear Friend,
 
 
 
Permit me to inform you of my desire of going into business relationship with you; I know you would be surprised to read from someone relatively unknown to you before now. My name is Sgt Mark Hoopes, a master Sgt. of The U.S.ARMY, deployed to Iraq in the beginning of the war in 2003.
 
 
 
I contacted you to assist me to receive and invest on my behalf the sum of US$10,200,000.00 (Ten Million, Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only) which I got from Crude Oil deal here in Iraq, the funds is in a safe consignment currently deposited with a Red Cross Agent.
 
 
 
All I require from you is your honesty and maximum co-operation which this transaction deserves considering what happened to my friend last year 2009 he lost US$23Million to an Italian business man. Therefore, on receipt of your positive response I can assure you that this transaction will take only five (5) days to be completed once I receive your positive response.
 
 
 
I guarantee that this will be executed under 100% legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. 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 and see the opportunity that came across some of us in the course of our duty in Iraq.
 
 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm
 
 
 
Please do get back to me urgently with your decision to enable me make an alternative arrangement if the need should arise, however, i am offering you 30% of the fund while you keep 70% for me for viable investment.
 
 
PLEASE, THIS TRANSACTION REQUIRES TOP CONFIDENTIALITY.
 
Email: sgt.markhoopes01@yahoo.com.hk
 
 
Regards,
 
 
 
Sgt, Mark Hoopes.
 

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