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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: Chen-Lin Chiang <tossi@costadelmar.com>
Reply-To: <chenlinchiang533@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Jul 2019 10:05:31 -0700
Subject: Hello Dear

Dear Sir, Madam,
I write this mail in confidence, believing that it will reach you in high spirit and I also believe that you will maintain the level of confidence and trust that this business deal requires. Though I know that this Deal may make you apprehensive and worried, but I assure you that all will be well at the end. Before proceeding, I wish to introduce myself. I am Mr.Chen-Lin Chiang a Vault Security Manager with GRIMSBY VAULT LTD United Kingdom.
 
My Proposal to you:
 
An European Citizen, by name withheld , a successful businessman until his death in a plane crash with his entire family . Before the death of the businessman he operated a special code private vault with Grimsby vault where he kept valuables, this type of vault is operated by high net worth individuals. Since his death a year ago my company has been expecting a next of kin to stand as beneficiary to these funds but no one has come forward. Valuable efforts have been made by my department to locate any of late businessman relative or his business partner to stand as beneficiary to his estates but there was no success in our search. This businessman is a very nice person because I have had occasions where I engaged him in a discussion one day and I found out that he is a very generous philanthropist and he happens to be an orphan whilst growing up.
 
It is because of the perceived possibility of not being able to locate any of the late businessman next of kin since his wife and daughters died with him in the plane crash. Consequently, the top boards of Directors of my company will soon have a meeting to decide on what to do with the vault and the contents of the vaults, which consequently will be to share the vault contents and valuables among themselves. Hence out of curiosity I decided to hacked the special code and open the vault and scanned the contents , my findings was unbelievable, it has a large trunk luggage containing big volume of cash ( should be up to 9 million dollars) and another luggage containing gold bars. I now seek your permission to have you stand as next of kin to the estate of late businessman since you shared the same surname and claim the whole contents of the vault. I will perfect all documents and proofs to enable you be the beneficiary and next of kin.
 
Once I process the documentation to make you the beneficiary and the whole vault contents are released to you ,  you will be entitle to 30% as gratification to this deal, 10% will be set aside for any expenses incurred in the cause of this business deal and 30% will be for me and the remaining 30% goes to charity . Have it in mind that my share will be in your care until I am able to resign from active service with my company.  As soon as I receive your acceptance to participate in this deal, I will furnish you with the necessary modalities to commence. Finally, I am relying in my confidence in you having opened up to you, if you are not interested, please feel free to inform me so i will continue to scout for a willing partner.
 
 
Sincerely,
 
Chen-Lin Chiang

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