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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: "Liu Yan" <cqxz09@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: liu_y001@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2007 19:42:48 +0000
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSAL

Hello,

I apologize for this intrusion since I do not know if I am writing to my
intended recipient. I decided to contact you through email due to the
urgency involved in this matter. My name is Liu Yan, I work with BANK OF
CHINA, HONG KONG. I need your co-operation in receiving USD8.6M that has
been in a dormant account with my bank for over 3 years now under
inheritance claim.

30% of the total sums will be accrued to you upon the confirmation of the
funds in your nominated account. Although it may seem small, but you have to
understand and accept this since 40% of the total sum will go to charity, as
my entitlement here is also 30%. I need your co-operation here because the
account holder an Iraqi Chieftain and businessman lost his life during the
war and I being his account officer, I have tried to reach any of the next
trustees , but to no avail and since I am not in position to make the claim,
I can establish you before the bank as the heir to the bequest. It is very
important that the claim is made, as the bank will turn the funds over to
the Hong Kong government treasury anytime from now if it remains unclaimed.
What bother me most is that we have some unscrupulous government official
who will embezzle this funds instead of using it for good course. It is
because of this I have seek for your assistance.

I will provide you with detailed information on the modalities of this
operation once I have your interest but I must say that trust flourishes
business. Therefore let your conscience towards this proposal be nurtured
with sincerity. I don't think I need to spell out the importance of Secrecy
in this Matter considering the amount involved. I will bring you up to date
with all the information as soon as I hear from you. So, if I don't hear
from you within a period of one month I will assume you are not interested
and will solicit for a new partner, but if you know you are interested let
me know. Kindly send your immediate response to my more private email:
liu_y001@yahoo.com.hk.


Waiting to hear from you.

Thank you

Liu Yan

_________________________________________________________________
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