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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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Fraud email example:

From: "leu cheng" <info@chengl.org>
Date: Sun, 17 Jul 2005 01:35:25 +0000
Subject: Awaiting your urgent reply.

FROM THE DESK OF:
MR.LEU CHENG
HANG SENG BANK LTD.
DES VOEUX RD.BRANCH
CENTRAL HONG KONG
HONG KONG.
E-MAIL: leu@discovermail.com

Dear Sir/Madam,
I am Mr.LEU CHENG, credit officer of Hang Seng Bank Ltd. I have an
urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. On June 6,
2000,a British Oil consultant/contractor with the Chinese Solid Minerals
Corporation,Mr.Robert Purdy made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for
twelve calendar months, valued at US$4.5million (four million five
hundred 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 Hong Kong Solid Minerals Corporation that Mr.
Robert Purdy died from an automobile accident. On further investigation,
I found out that he died without making a WILL, and all attempts to trace
his next of kin was fruitless.
I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr.Robert
Purdy did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents,
including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum of US$4.5 million
dollars 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 Laws of Hong Kong, at the expiration
of 5(five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Hong Kong
Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.Consequently, my proposal
is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to
Mr. Robert Purdy so that the fruits of this old man's labor will not
get into the hands of some corrupt government officials.This is simple,
I will like you to provide immediately your full names and address so
that the attorney will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits
that will put you in place as the next of kin.We shall employ the
services of an attorney for drafting and notarization of the WILL
and to obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration
in your favor for the transfer. A bank account in any part of the world
that you will provide will then facilitate the transfer of this money to
you as the beneficiary/next of kin.The money will be paid into your
account for us to share in the ratio of 70% for me and 25% for you and
5% for expenses incurred in the course of the transaction.
There is no risk at all,as all the paperwork for this transaction will
be done by the attorney and with my position as the credit 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 relevant documents that will help
you understand the transaction.
Please send me your confidential email and fax numbers for easy
communication as my spoken english is not very good. 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.
Please you can contact me on my alternate email:leu@discovermail.com
Awaiting your urgent reply.
Thanks and regards.
Mr.LEU CHENG.


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