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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: "Mr. Vincent Cheng" <mirosaw.sudomir@neostrada.pl>
Reply-To: chengvincent18@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:47:35 +0800
Subject: Life Opportunity Needed!!

I am Mr. Vincent Cheng, GBS, JP Chairman of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited. I have a business proposal of Twenty Two million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars only for you to transact with me from my bank to your country.Having gone through a methodical search, I decided to contact you hoping that you will find this proposal interesting. Please on your confirmation of this message and indicating your interest All confirmable documents to back up the claims will be made available to you after your acceptance and as soon as I receive your return mail Via my email address:chengv15@yahoo.com and I will let you know what is required of you,your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.
Endeavour to let me know your decision rather than keep me waiting

Best Regards,
Mr. Vincent Cheng

Anti-fraud resources: