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

Fraud email example:

From: "YONGHONG WAN" <a18wanyonghong@gmail.com>
Reply-To: bishopqinwang@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 23:53:01 +0200
Subject: your message


Complement of the day,

Thank you for reading my mail. i am Mrs. Yonghong Wan a staff of Standard
Chartered Bank attached in Private Banking services. I am contacting you
concerning a customer and, an investment placed under our banks management 4
years ago, I contacted you independently of our investigation and no one is
informed of this communication and I would like to intimate you with certain
facts that I believe would be of interest to you.

My proposal;
I am prepared to place you in a position to instruct the finance firm to
release the deposit to you as the closest surviving relation. Upon receipt
of the deposit, I am prepared to share the money with you 50/50.. But on the
other hand, you as a foreigner and also with all the necessary legal and
official documentations from me and the presiding attorney and also with the
authority vested upon me by the original depositor.

If you find yourself able to work with me, contact me through this email:
yonghongwan211@yahoo.com.hk Please note that, I am a happily married with
two kids. Do not betray my confidence. If we can be of one accord, we should
plan a meeting, soon.

I await your response.

Sincerely,

Yonghong Wan.

Anti-fraud resources: