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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "huge amount of money" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Beth Rogers" <ming_yangmails@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:54:42 GMT
Subject: RESPONSE NEEDED


Good Day,

I sincerely hope that this letter will not come to you as a surprise or
an embarrassment since we neither knew each other before nor had any
neither previous correspondence nor contact. Let me start by introducing
myself. I am Mr. Ming Yang, Director of Operations of the Hang Seng
Bank Ltd, Sai Wan Ho Branch, Hong Kong. I have an obscured business
suggestion for you.

I am here-by seeking your service in giving a clear research and
feasibility studies on areas I could invest on. Your services will be paid
for, and you will be a partner, if your recommendation is accepted.As a
bank employee, I can not operate any personal investment till I am
retired and with the Anti-corruption Bill passed in Hong Kong; it is risky
for a fixed income earner to own any huge amount of money in Hong Kong
or any foreign country. It is then advisable to invest in any foreign
land secretly and patiently wait retirement.You are to handle everything
personally and with utmost confidentiality, if my proposal is
acceptable as I may not be able to travel down, since I must obtain an =
official
clearance before leaving this territory.

Note importantly that, this is a confidential proposal and must be
treated as such because the banking sector has commenced probing of all
senior banking officials that have served in the past and presently in
service.For security purpose, due to telecom interception in Hong Kong, I
shall not accept or acknowledge any phone call. Only fax
messages/emails would be treated in relation to this proposal but not =
without this
code; =5BCODE NO: AM-002=5D. Should you be further interested, I would =
prefer
you to reach me on the email address below:
(ming_yangmails=40yahoo.com.hk) and finally after that I shall provide
you with more details of this operation.

Kind Regards,
Mr. Ming yang

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam