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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: "Norman Chan" <norman@chang.net>
Reply-To: normanchang500@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Fri, 18 Jun 2010 09:40:19 -0500
Subject: Business Proposal


Hello,

I came across your contact via international personal research profile in
my earnest search for a trustworthy and honest person to handle a
transaction with me, and I apologize if the content of this e-mail or
method of approach are contrary to your moral ethics, but I had to reach
you through this medium.

I have a proposition and I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in
this matter untill the task is accomplished. I am Mr. Norman Chan Tak-lam,
S.B.S., J.P, Chief Executive, Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). I have
a top secret dealing suggestion for you which will benefit the both of
us, if sincerely handled.

During my bank's end of year audit of 2009, there was a board decision
that all unclaimed funds concerning Inheritance should be declared bad
claims to enable the bank relocate itself against accumulated debts. In
the course of my responsibility, I discovered $47.1M USD(Forty-Seven
Million, One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) left unclaimed by a
deceased customer since September, 2005.

Every exploration I made showed that there is no registered beneficiary to
these funds. All I need now, is someone from outside Hong Kong who can
associate with me to claim this money. I have access to every document
that will register you as the beneficiary of the funds. My anticipated
percentage for sharing shall be fair enough 50% for me, 45% for you and 5%
to take care of expenditures during the transaction.

Send your reply to my top secret Email: normanchang500@yahoo.com.hk

I wait to hear from you.

Best Regards,
Mr. Norman Chan.

Anti-fraud resources: