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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Li Chow Wai" <lichowwai_10@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: li_chowwai1@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2006 18:34:48 -0800
Subject: I AWAIT YOUR SWIFT RESPONSE

Mr. Li Chow Wai
Credit Officer,
Bank Of East Asia
16/F, Tower 1, Admiralty
Centre, 18 Harcourt Road,
Central, Hong Kong.

Dear Friend,

I am Mr. Li Chow Wai ,Credit Officer Bank Of East Asia (BEA), Hong Kong. I
have a sincere and very confidential business proposition for you.

On october 6th 1999, a British Consultant / Contractor with the Chinese
Ministry of Agricuture, Mr. David Woodbin made a (Fixed) Deposit for twelve
calendar months, valued at US$43,600,000.00 (Forty Three Million six hundred
United State Dollars only) in my branch.

Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but
got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered
from his contract employers, the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture that Mr.
David Woodbin died after a brief illness on postrate cancer. On further
indept investigation, I found out that he died without notifying anybody
about the deposit in my bank.This sum of US$43,600,000.00 is still sitting
in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at
the end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it.

According to the Hong Kong Law, under the Chinese constitution at the
expiration of 6 (Six) years, such funds will revert to the ownership of the
Government for financing military operations on defence affairs, such as
purchasing of arms and ammunitions for the military.

Against this backdrop, my suggestion to you is that I will like you asa
foreigner to stand as the next of kin to Mr. David Woodbin so that you will
be able to receive his funds.

The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 60%
for me and 40% for you on your assistance.There is no risk at all as all the
paperwork for this transaction will be done by my attorney and with my
position as the Accounting Officer, guarantees the successful execution of
this transaction. If you are interested, please reply immediately.

Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and that
will help you understand the transaction.

You should observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this
transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require
your assistance to invest my share in your country.

Awaiting your urgent reply.

Thanks and regards.

Mr. Li Chow Wai



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