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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: "Ming Yang" <mingyang70045@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: mingyang_hk45@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Thu, 24 Nov 2005 21:22:37 +0800
Subject: CONTACT ME

FROM: MING YANG

(mingyang_hk45@yahoo.com.hk)

Dear friend,

Let me start by introducing myself. I am Mr. Ming Yang director of
operations of the Hang Seng Bank Ltd. I have an obscured business suggestion
for you.

Before the U.S and Iraqi war our client Major Fadi Basem who was with the
Iraqi forces and also business man made a numbered fixed deposit for 18
calendar months, with a value of Twenty Four millions Five Hundred Thousand
United State Dollars only in my branch. Upon maturity several notice was
sent to him, even during the war and again after the war another
notification was sent and still no response came from him. We later find out
that the Major and his family had been killed during the war in bomb blast
that hit their home.

After further investigation it was also discovered that Major Fadi Basem did
not declare any next of kin 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, Twenty Four
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 to the laws of my country at the expiration 4 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 Major
Fadi Basem 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 Major Fadi
Basem , 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 fill in for
claims on your behalf and secure the necessary approval and letter of
probate in your favor for the move of the funds to an account that will be
provided by you.

There is no risk involved at all in the matter as we are going to adopt a
legalized method and the attorney will prepare all the necessary documents.
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 70% for me, 30% for you . Should you be interested
please send me your full names and current residential address and I will
prefers you to reach me on the email address below :

(mingyang_hk45@yahoo.com.hk)

And finally after that i shall provide you with more details of this
operation.Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.

Kind Regards,
Mr Ming Yang


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