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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: "Cheng Keung" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cheng1eung@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 5 May 2010 03:26:47 +0200
Subject: Can you work with me? / Können Sie mit mir arbeiten?

Tuesday, May 4, 2010.
cheng1eung@yahoo.com.hk
Good day, I hope you are having a good day and this message meets you in a good mood.
I am Cheng Keung, and I am an employee of one of the top financial institutions here in Hong Kong.
I want to use this opportunity to Offer you a business undertaking with a very high monetary gain and value, mutually beneficial to both parties if you are interested.
Your immediate response will be appreciated, via my email address below.
Best Regards
Cheng Keung
cheng1eung@yahoo.com.hk

Dienstag, den 4. Mai 2010.
cheng1eung@yahoo.com.hk
Guter Tag, hoffe ich, dass Sie einen guten Tag haben und diese Mitteilung Sie in einer guten Stimmung trifft. Ich bin Cheng Keung und ich bin ein Angestellter von einem der obersten Finanzinstitute hier in Hong Kong. Ich möchte diese Gelegenheit verwenden, Ihnen ein Geschäft anzubieten aufnehmend mit einem sehr hohen Kapitalgewinn und einem Wert, gegenseitig vorteilhaft beiden Parteien, wenn Sie interessiert sind. Ihre sofortige Antwort wird, über mein email address unten geschätzt.
Bester Respekt
Cheng Keung
cheng1eung@yahoo.com.hk

Anti-fraud resources: