419 scam: "Nicholas Hamilton" <randomsenders@sendercenter.com> PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

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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:

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:
- "trunk box" (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.
- nichhamilton@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Nicholas Hamilton" <randomsenders@sendercenter.com>
Reply-To: <nichhamilton@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2011 16:59:20 +0100
Subject: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

Hello,

Good day and compliments, please do not be embarrassed about my unsolicited e-mail to you.
I implore you to take the time to go through it carefully as
the decision you make will go off a long way to determine my future and
continued existence. Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Lt. Nicholas Hamilton,
serving in the Engineering Unit of US Military here in Ba'qubah in Iraq.

I am desperately in need of assistance and I have summoned up courage to contact
you, presently am in Iraq and I found your email in an address journal. I am
seeking your assistance to evacuate some funds which was stashed in a Trunk Box,
to the States or any safe country of your choice; 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 and concealed in barrels with
piles of weapons and ammunition at a location near one of Saddam Hussein's old
Presidential Palaces in Tikrit Iraq, during a rescue operation, view the link
below for verification:

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

It was agreed by all parties present that the money be shared amongst us.
Although, some were reported to be sent back.
This might appear as an illegal but I tell you what? No compensation can make up
for the risks we have taken with our lives in this hell hole. I have now found a
secured way of getting the package out of Iraq for you to pick up. I do not know
for how long I will remain here as I have been lucky to have survived 2 suicide
bomb attacks by Pure Divine intervention. This and other reasons put into
consideration have prompted me to reach out for help.

If it might be of interest to you then endeavor to contact me and we would work
out the necessary formalities but I pray that you are discreet about this
mutually benefiting relationship.
Should you have any reason to reject this offer, please and please delete this
message immediately, as any leakage of this information will be detrimental to
the US soldiers here in Iraq and especially to me.

Seriously, I want you to assist me. Get back to me for further details if
interested.

Private and secured e-mail: nichhamilton@gmail.com

Regards,
Lt. Nicholas Hamilton

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam