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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: Lorenzo Miles <miles.enzo@outlook.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2017 15:30:39 +0000
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL. REPLY ASAP.


Hello,

How are you? I hope you are having a Good Day

I am Lorenzo M. Robbins by name. I work with the USA Army, still on a peace keeping mission in Afghanistan. I really need your assistance that is the reason why I contacted you, I want to go into a cordial relationship and business partnership with you, as I don't know how long we would stay in the war zone here. Here in the military zone we are not allowed to make use of mobile phones, we only make use of radio message and e-mail communication.

I want you to know that we are being attacked by insurgents every day and several bombings. During one of our rescue mission we came across a safe box that contain huge amount of money that belongs to the revolutionaries, which I believe they use it in buying weapons and ammunition and it was agreed by all parties in present that the money will be shared among us.

Out of the total fund my share was $4,000,000 (Four Million US Dollars), I am seeking your assistance to evacuate my share of the money, which is $4,000,000. out of here to you; in as much as you can assure me that my own share will be safe in your care until I complete my service here, This is not stolen money, and there are no dangers involved.

I have made arrangements with a United Nation Diplomat who promised to deliver the fund to any of my chosen destination, I shall be compensating you with 40% of the total fund if you can help me secure the box, while the balance shall be my investment capital in your country, One passionate appeal I will make to you is not to discuss this matter to a third party, if you have reasons to reject this offer, please destroy this e-mail as any leakage of this information will be too bad for me, due to my position as a USAF Lieutenant.

I have chosen to contact you after my prayers and I believe that you will not betray my trust, but rather take me as your own Brother, Though you may wonder why I am so soon revealing myself to you without knowing you, well I will say that my mind convinced me that you are the true person to help me receive and invest the fund.

I do not know how long we will remain here, and I have survived two bomb attacks here, which prompted me to search out for a reliable and trustworthy person to help me receive and invest the fund in his country.

I wish you send me a reply immediately as soon as you receive this proposal, Your urgent reply will be highly appreciated. I hope my explanation is very clear but if you need further clarification, then send your questions, I wait to hear from you soonest.

Regards,
USAF Lieutenant Lorenzo M. Robbins


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