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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: "Cheung Pui" <pui6078@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: cheungpui6000@aim.com
Date: Fri, 11 Nov 2005 03:52:57 +0000
Subject: SOLICITING YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE

Let me start by introducing myself. I am Mr. Cheung Pui director of
operations of the Hang Seng Bank Ltd,Sai Wan Ho Branch.I have a
obscured business suggestion for you.

A client of ours whose name I will mention as we progress in this
quest,made an investment deposit valued of Eleven millions Five Hundred
Thousand United State Dollars only in my branch. Upon maturity several
notice was sent to him but there was no response. Again after a 90 days
period another notification was sent and still no response came from
him. We later find out that the client has been involved in a little
misfortune.

After further investigation it was also discovered that the client left
instrutions that his kin would be norminated after the elapse of his
first invesment tenure, hence no kin was declare in his official papers
including the paper work of his bank deposit. And he also confided in
me the
last
time he was at my office that no one except me knew of his deposit in
my
bank. So, Eleven millions Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars is
still
lying in my bank and no one will ever come forward to claim it. What
bothers me most is that according to the laws of my country at the
expiration 3
years the funds will revert to the ownership of the Hong Kong
Government if nobody applies to claim the funds.

Against this backdrop, my suggestion to you is that I will like you as
a foreigner to stand as the next of kin to our client so that you will
be able to receive his funds.

WHAT IS TO BE DONE:

I want you to know that I have had everything planned out so that we
shall come out successful. I have contacted an attorney that will
prepare the necessary document that will back you up as the next of kin
to the client, all that is required from you at this stage is for you
to
provide me with your Full Names and Address so that the attorney can
commence his job. After you have been made the next of kin, the
attorney will also file in for claims on your behalf and secure the
necessary
approval and letter of probate in your favor for effective remittance
of the funds to an account that will be provided by you.

There is no risk involved at, as we are going adopt a legalized method
towards the success of this quest. Please endeavor to observe utmost
discretion in all matters concerning this issue.Once the funds have
been transferred to your nominated bank account we shall share in the
ratio
of 60% for me, 40% for you . Should you be interested please send me
your
full names and current residential address.

Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.

Kind Regards

Mr. Cheung Pui


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