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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: catherinedonald1847@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2023 06:31:48 +0200
Subject: urgent

Hello Dear

It is a pleasure. I am Sergeant Catherine Donald from Tempe, Arizona, United States of America. I'm a soldier and before I was serving at the base of the American military in the United States, but right now I am in Libya, I am serving in the army of the 3rd Infantry Division in Libya.

I hope you and your family are fine. Am also fine here but just that thing is not so easy for me because from time to time our military colleagues are being attacked by car bombs and insurgents but I thank God for saving my life every day.

As I informed you about something very important to share with you. Listening to this, during one of our rescue mission with my Military team we came across a safe box that contain huge amount; of money that belongs to the revolutionaries, which I believe they are using the money to buy weapons and ammunition for war, after we discovered the fund it was agreed by all our military parties in that mission that the money will be shared between us.

Out of the total fund my share was $4,700,000.00 (Four Million Seven Hundred Thousand U S Dollars ), right now I am seek your assistance to evacuate my share of the money which is $4,700,000.00 to your place as quickly as possible,because my team have been among the selected unit to join the US intervention in Syria. If you can assure me that my funds will be safe in your care until I complete my service here in the next few months, there are no risks involved,due to my position in service, I keep the funds in a treasure box and deposited it to UN Security office here as family items, I don't have bank account here and due to my position in services, I cannot transfer the fund because all our activities are intact, also our military communication here are only radio message and internet facilities.

To avoid losing the funds here due to the level of crisis every day, I have made a solid arrangement with a UN Security office, they agreed and promised to send their diplomats to deliver the treasure box to any destination of my choice.

As a matter of urgency, I need your urgent assistance and as you assist me receive the fund, I shall be compensating you with 30% of the total fund personally, while the remainder of the balance shall be my investment capital in your City which will still be under your control until I meet you. Please, do not disclose this issue to any third party, if you have any reason to reject this offer, delete all my email conversation with you because any leakage of this information will be very dangerous for me considering my position in services.

I pray and believe you will not betray my trust, take me as your own blood Sister or your business partner as the fund will invest under your control. Although you may wonder why I am so soon revealing myself to you without knowing you so deeply, it is better I reveal it to you and you help me than losing the funds here out of my ignorance. I have so much fear in me because I have survived two bomb attacks here and now have been selected for the Syria mission, with a chemical weapon currently launched on the population. I wish to quit if you receive the funds in time.

Thanks and remain blessed as your urgent reply will be highly appreciated, I hope my explanation is understood and welcome.

Best regard
Sergeant Catherine Donald

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