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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: "Capt. Matt Pottinger" <matt_pottinger@skymail.mn>
Reply-To: <matt_pottinger147@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 02:35:57 -1200
Subject: Urgent Response Needed

Dear Friend,
 
With trust, I faithfully write to you as i know this mail will definitely come to you as a huge surprise, but I implore you to take the time to go through it carefully as the decision you make will go a long way to determine the future of my business prospect with you.
 
I have a business proposal for you. I am a captain with the United Nations troop in Afghanistan, on war against terrorism. Based on the United States legislative and executive decision for withdrawing troops from Afganistan come next year, Our mission is to help beef up terrorist targeted states, mostly the United States and the European Union on the war against terrorism.
 
 
On the other hand I want to inform you that I have in my possession the sum of 16.2 million USD. Which I got from crude oil deal here in Afghanistan.  I want to invest the money in your country as soon as I am deployed into your country for a good business, anyway you will advice me on that since I am not a business person.
 
 
I cannot move this money to the United States because I will be in your country for about 3years, so I need someone I could trust. If you accept, I will transfer the money to your country where you will be the beneficiary because I am a uniformed person and I cannot be parading such an amount so I need to present someone as the beneficiary. I am an American and an intelligence officer for that so I have a 100% authentic means of transferring the money through diplomatic courier service .I just need your acceptance and all is done.
 
Please if you are interested in this transaction I will give to you the complete details you need for us to carry out this transaction successfully. I believe I can trust you. Where we are now we can only communicate through our military communication facilities which are secured so nobody can monitor our emails, then I can explain in details to you. I will only reach you through email, because our calls might be monitored.
 
I just have to be sure whom I am dealing with. If you are interested please send me your personal mobile number so I can call you for further enquiries when I am out of our military network. I am writing from a fresh email account so if you are not interested do not reply to this email and please delete this message, if no response after 3days I will then search for someone else.
 
 
I wait for your contact details so we can go on. In less than 5days the money should have been noted on your account and I will come over for my money. I will give to you 30% of the sum and 70% is for me. I hope I am been fair on this deal.
 
 
Get back to me with your full information:
 
 
1.Your Full Names.........
2.Your Full Address....................
3.Your Direct Phone Number...........
4.Your Copy of identification.............
 
 
Kindly respond to my Private email.....matt_pottinger147@hotmail.com
 
 
Regards,
Captain Matt Pottinger

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