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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: "Catherine Gomez" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cgomerine@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2017 15:06:05 -0400
Subject: READ NOW PLEASE NOW.

Greetings to you my dear, I apologize for sending this unsolicited message to you but I find it pleasurable to offer you my partnership in business. I am CPT Catherine Gomez, an officer in the USA Army, presently serving in the Military with the 82nd Airborne Division Peace keeping force. I really need your help in assisting me with the safe keeping of Two Military Trunk Boxes. I hope you can be trusted? If you can be trusted, I will explain further when I get a response from you for further clarification. Nevertheless, reconfirm your details to me and please ensure to reply via my private e-mail: cgomerine@gmail.com Thanks for your understanding and cooperation, God bless you and America
 
Yours Truly
Catherine Gomez
US ARMY

Anti-fraud resources: