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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: "Brigadier Gen. Michael Cole." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cole@gmail.hu>
Date: Thu, 28 Oct 2021 20:47:31 -0000
Subject: Confirm Your Urgent Attention,

I am Michael Cole by name, a US Army with the RANK OF "Brigadier General" I just exited Kabul as a result of the Withdrawal of the US Military from KABUL AFGHANISTAN, as a result of many Missteps by former Administrations according to Joe Biden and he says "No time is Right to Withdraw". I am presently undergoing an official assignment in Doha Qatar. I have a package discovered in one of our operations in Kabul Afghanistan that contains valuable funds and Gold, I need this package to be sent to you for safe keeping and I will share the content on a 50/50 basis with you if you pleased.

“The US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 ousted the insurgents from power, but they never left.” Many nations will not rush to recognize the Taliban take over as a Government due to negativity of what they are capable of doing. The level of insecurity in Kabul is glooming by the day and I cannot send this out to myself as the receiver for security reasons, Fear grips Afghanistan as Taliban take control, only God can help their good people out there.

I lost my wife and only daughter last year when the deadly Corona-Virus that struck the US and as the only child that grew up from an Orphanage home, I went in search of a trustworthy person over the internet that can work this out with me, and with my person you should know that this must be kept secret and confidential.

The box contains $2,250,000.00 (Two Million Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand U.S. Dollars) only in cash and Gold that worth US$1.9, 000.000.00

I need your assurance and support that you will receive and safely keep the box for us to share on a 50/50 basis.

Please for confidentiality I will kindly advice that you reply me through e-mail

I look forward to your quick reply to enable us to get started.

Yours Sincerely,

Brigadier Gen. Michael Cole.

Email: cole@gmail.hu

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