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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: "Mr. Vincent Cheng" <info@yahoo.com.cn>
Reply-To: mrvinncheng_111@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 08:50:59 +0800
Subject: N/A


Spam detection software, running on the system "mail2.ltyschool.edu.hk", has
identified this incoming email as possible spam. The original message
has been attached to this so you can view it (if it isn't spam) or label
similar future email. If you have any questions, see
The administrator of that system for details.

Content preview: From: MR. V H C CHENG. Email: mrvinncheng_111@yahoo.com.hk
Good Day I am Mr. Vincent Cheng Hoi Chuen, GBS, JP Chairman of the Hong Kong
and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited. [...]

Content analysis details: (9.4 points, 5.0 required)

pts rule name description
---- ---------------------- --------------------------------------------------
-1.4 ALL_TRUSTED Passed through trusted hosts only via SMTP
1.6 MISSING_HEADERS Missing To: header
1.8 MILLION_USD BODY: Talks about millions of dollars
1.5 RAZOR2_CF_RANGE_E4_51_100 Razor2 gives engine 4 confidence level
above 50%
[cf: 100]
0.5 RAZOR2_CHECK Listed in Razor2 (http://razor.sf.net/)
0.5 RAZOR2_CF_RANGE_51_100 Razor2 gives confidence level above 50%
[cf: 100]
2.0 ADVANCE_FEE_2 Appears to be advance fee fraud (Nigerian 419)
1.4 ADVANCE_FEE_3 Appears to be advance fee fraud (Nigerian 419)
1.5 ADVANCE_FEE_4 Appears to be advance fee fraud (Nigerian 419)



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