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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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Fraud email example:

From: "MR.TIM HONG" <timhomg@netscape.net> (may be fake)
Reply-To: kimhomg@netscape.net
Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2005 10:56:48 +0100
Subject: SEEKING FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP

Name: Mr.Kim Hong.
Email:kimhomg@netscape.net

Dear Friend,

My name is Mr. Kim Hong from North Korea, presently in refugee’s camp in Southern Korea. I would like you to guide me through the most viable investment opportunities in your Country. Alternatively, I can invest in your line of business if you are interested and, your line of business is viable enough. I am one of the defectors from the north and I am currently residing in South Korea.

In addition, I have been in this Country for about two months now, and the condition is different from what we planned for. The Government promised has to give us a fair treatment has been ignored. Before defecting from the North, I was into currency exchange business and I was always traveling to other parts of Asia and European countries. During that period, I was able to move out my funds and deposited it in a bank in Europe.

My intention is to have this fund invested by a trustworthy individual businessman/investor, in your Country with your assistance and advice, because we are being treated as foreigners here. A lot of defectors now go to Canada or the United States and some parts of Europe to live. I am not able to do so now, because I am presently an asylum seeker in Southern part of the country, and the law does no permit us free business contact, hence, do not have access to my funds.

For more details, please see the following websites;
http://www.detnews.com/2003/nation/0310/09/a19e-292811.htm
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1181380/posts

I want you to send me a complete breakdown of the investment opportunities in your Country and also let me know your capability to act as my partner to invest the funds on my behalf in your Country. In view of the above, kindly forward to me the following:

(1) Your complete name and address.
(2) Your contact private phone and fax number.
(3) And your line of investment opportunity you can be of assistance.

Note that you will be offer a substantial amount of share for your willingness to act on my behalf. Since we are restricted from indulging in phone calls here, I can always correspond with you through mails. You can reach me on my personal email address: kimhomg@netscape.net

Further details of the transaction will be revealed to you, including the amount of money that is involved on receipt of your response. Looking forward to your positive response.

Thanks and God Bless you.

Mr. Kim Hong
kimhomg@netscape.net


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