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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Xi Chu" <xichu_2001@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2006 17:59:09 +0000
Subject: Project Proposal.

Mr. Xi Chu
Accounting Officer,
Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi
16/F, Tower 1, Admiralty
Centre, 18 Harcourt Road,
Central, Hong Kong.
 
Dear Friend,
I am Mr. Xi Chu,Accounting Officer
Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi,Hong Kong.
I have a sincere and very confidential
business proposition for you.
On october 6th 1999,a British consultant/contractor
with the Chinese Ministry of Agricuture,
Mr. David Woodbin made a (Fixed) Deposit for
twelve calendar months, valued at US$16.600.000.00
(Sixteen Million Six Hundred Thousand United State
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 Chinese Ministry of
Agriculture that Mr. David Woodbin died after a brief
illness on postrate cancer. On further indept
investigation,I found out that he died without notifying anybody
about the deposit in my bank.This sum of US$16,600,000.00
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 the Hong Kong Law,under the Chinese
constitution at the expiration of 6(Six) years,such funds will
revert to the ownership of the Government
for financing military operations on defence affairs,
such as purchasing of arms and ammunitions for the
military.
 
In order to avert this negative development,i will
like to seek for your permission as a foreigner to
stand as the next of kin to Mr. David Woodbin so
that the fruits of this old man's labor will not
be use for financing weapons which will further
enhance the courses of war in the world in
general.
 
The money will be paid into your account for us to
share in the ratio of 60% for me and 40% for you
on your assistance.There is no risk at all as all the
paperwork for this transaction will be done by my
attorney and with my position as the Accounting
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 that will help
you understand the transaction.
 
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.
Awaiting your urgent reply.
Thanks and regards.
Respectfully,
Mr. Xi Chu
 
Accounting Officer.
Mr.Xi Chu
INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT
Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi .
16/F, Tower 1, Admiralty
Centre, 18 Harcourt Road,
Central, Hong Kong.

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