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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: "Wilson M Koh" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <malcpm455@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Sep 2011 02:41:06 +0800
Subject: Urgent News From Iraq

From Wilson Koh
Camp MXP-512 Third Infantry Division
UnitT.I.D.U,
Abul Uruj, Baghdad, Iraq.
I am Wilson Koh,I am a Military Contractor with the America troop currently serving in the third infantry division Unit in Iraq.
I am currently on duty break. My partner Darren D. Braswell,36, of Riverdale, Ga., died Jan. 7th near TalAfar, Iraq, when the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter in which he was a Passenger crashed. Braswell worked For the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, before his death We secretly moved some abandoned cash in a mansion belonging to the  former president, Saddam Hussein and the total cash is US$20,200,000.00 Twenty Million two hundred thousand Dollars.
As I write this letter to you, these boxes are in Security Company as I secretly moved it out of Baghdad to safe location.
Sir I seek your consent to help me move this money to your country location.
 
You do not have to be afraid of anything as no one else knows about this and everything is safe. I would be pleased and grateful to you if you could assist me and my late partner  Darren D. Braswel in receiving this boxes for us on your behalf as I will be heading back soon to camp in Iraq to join my colleagues. Of course, I shall compensate you with an attractive percent of the total funds for your role/efforts. We have limited time now as you know that our evacuation agreement has been concluded by the USA and IRAQI government, kindly get back to me immediately.
Moving the funds out of the security company is not going to be much of a problem as arrangements are being made towards that. All I want from you is your trust, Please get back to me with your full name Contact phone number Preferable without delay and let’s negotiate terms.
You can read more on this website for more information and explanations:   http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm
Yours in Service.
Wilson Koh

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