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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: "Philip Gilbert" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <philipgilbert1985@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2018 11:06:56 -0700
Subject: CAN I TRUST YOU?

Greetings to you,
 
My name is General Philip Gilbert. I am an American soldier, presently in Damascus Syria for a training, advising the Syria forces and also helping in stabilizing the country against security challenges. With a very desperate need for assistance, I have decided to contact you for your kind assistance to move the sum of 13 blocks of Gold worth (US$6,200,000.00) to you for investment purpose if I can be assured that my interest will be protected until I complete my service.
 
Actually I have about 13 blocks of Gold worth $6.2 Million Dollars in a security company here, the Gold is legal, listen to how i got the Gold, we bombed the main camp of the terrorist and discover a very huge amount of blocks which the terrorist are planning to use in buying war materials, So the Army big rank officers decided to shared the blocks of Gold within our self's, which we did and i took my own share, but series of investigation about the blocks is going on this days, we all now plan to find way to move the gold out from security company where we deposited it as we couldn't take it to the bank for the safety of the gold and that of our job. I want to move this blocks through diplomatic security company immunity to your country so that you can save and keep it until I meet you there in your country once my mission here is finished.
 
Since we are still working for the united state government, I cannot send this gold to my country for the time being because i don't have any trustworthy person to act as my next of kin and also because of the banking policy as a result of global crisis over there right now. Therefore, I will need your help to act as my next of kin to receive this gold in your country as i have checked they have immunity to receive diplomatic courier packages.
 
Honestly, if I fail to move this blocks of gold soonest before I leave this country I will lose it and it might also exposed me to the Government. this is what i would like you to do, once you receive this gold, you should take 40% for your compensation, sale one of it and give $50,000 for orphanage homes, and keep the remaining safe. I assure you that this transaction will be risk free and its success is 100% guaranteed. you should not be afraid about it.
 
Hence, the only option is to send the gold to you through diplomatic security company for you to receive in your country since its much more secured and fast. In order for me to expedite the necessary arrangements, i need you to send me your full name --------------,home address ---------------------, your email address--------------- and your mobile number --------------------- for you to receive the consignment box in your country.
 
Thanks
Sgt. Philip Gilbert

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