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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: "Cpt. M. MANSFIELD" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <m.mansfieldpost@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2018 01:37:52 -0700
Subject: 03/14/2018

Hello,

I know it would not be proper to encroach into your privacy in this manner, I should have requested your attention first, please pardon me it is due to the urgency of this arrangement.
Please understand that this moment I have no other better option than to ask for your permission in sharing this confidential information with you.
To cut the whole story short, I want to solicit your attention to receive a military Trunk box that contains good amount of money in my behalf. I am Cpt. M. Mansfield an officer in the USA Army, a West Point graduate presently serving in the Military with the 82nd Air Borne Division Peace keeping force currently in Afghanistan.
I really need your help in assisting me with receipt and the safe keeping of the military trunk box.
Can I rely on you on this as my trusted confidant? I will explain further when I get a response from you.

Nevertheless, if you will accept this offer from me, please get back to me for full detail.
Thanks for your cooperation.

Best Regards,
Cpt. MARK MANSFIELD
US ARMY

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