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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. Song Li" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <reach_songli@yahoo.cn>
Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 21:49:57 +0100
Subject: Business Proposition

Complement of the day, Although you might be apprehensive about my email as we have not met before. I am sorry to encroach into your privacy in this manner, I found you listed in the Hong Kong Businessmen Trade Centre Chambers of Commerce directory here in Hong Kong . Please do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal ethics. I am writing you for the second time since you did not reply to me at first email sent to you. However, I am contacting you in order to ask for your assistance on this confidential business proposal with full financial benefit for both of us. Before I go into further details, please be informed that I am writing without any other person(s) pre-knowledge of my contacting you on this transaction. Therefore I will appreciate same attitude to be maintained by you all through. My name is Mr. Song Lile. I work with the Hang Seng Bank. There is a sum of $19,500,000.00 in my bank Hang Seng Bank", Hong Kong. There were no beneficiaries stated concerning this fund which means no one would ever come to claim it. That is why I ask that we work together. I do solicit for your assistance in effecting this transaction.I intend to give 30% of the total funds as compensation for your assistance. I will notify you on the full transaction on receipt of your response if interested, and I shall send you the details and necessary procedures with which to make the transfer. Should you be interested? Please send me your: 1. Full names 2. Private phone number 3. Current residential address Kind Regards, Mr. Song Li.

Anti-fraud resources: