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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: "=?ISO-8859-1?Q?MR.TAN=20WONG?=" <tanwong@femb.org.br>
Reply-To: tan33_wong@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2011 06:12:57 -0300
Subject: Can I Trust You...

FROM:MR TAN WONG
tan162wong@yahoo.com.hk

I am Mr.Tan Wong director of operations, Hang Seng Bank, Hong Kong.I have
urgent and very confidential business proposition involving transfer of
$24,500,000.00 that will be of great benefit for both of us. I will give you
more details as regards this transaction as soon as you notify me of your
interest. Awaiting your urgent reply via my email address
(tan162wong@yahoo.com.hk) which is my confidential email address.

Kind Regards,
Mr.Tan Wong

Anti-fraud resources: