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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: "Simon Yi." <simoyi@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: simoyi12@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:09:06 +0700 (WIT)
Subject: FOR YOUR ATTENTION.


FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

Hello Friend,

I am Simon Yi: Finance Director in the Prestige Banking section of Hang
Seng bank in Hong Kong. . Permit me to ask for your utmost confidentiality
in the matter I write to you about. I have been a top executive of this
bank for several years during which time I have handled a lot of private
banking activities for various people on behalf of the bank.

I write to you regarding the estate of Fattal Haider Hanon an Iraqi
business man; an investment placed under our bank’s management 5
years ago. With accrued interest, his investment is now worth Eight
million two hundred and fifty thousand British Pounds (GBP 8,250,000).
When Mr Hanon failed to show up or send any instructions regarding the
fund, several notices were sent out and subsequent investigation by the
bank revealed that he and his family had been killed during the war in
Iraq. Their home in Mukaradeeb had been destroyed by a bomb explosion. As
personal manager of his portfolio, I am aware that that he has such
deposit with the bank with no nominated next of kin.

I propose that since I only have exclusive access to his file, I will add
your name to his file as his next of kin and you will be made the
beneficiary of the fund. Upon verification, which will be the details I
make available to my bank, my bank will make payments to you. For your
assistance, your share will be 40%, and I shall fly over to your country
for my share. In the banking circle this happens every time, or the money
will revert back to the state. This is 100% risk free as all
documentations will make it legal and satisfy international banking laws.

This is a lifetime opportunity for us. I am a family man; I have a wife
and children. I send you this mail not without a measure of fear as to the
consequences, but I know within me that nothing ventured is nothing
gained. This is the one truth I have learned from my private banking
clients. For security reasons, contact me via email as I do intend to
keep this transaction as discreet as possible and would advice you do
same. A private email will be given to you as soon as you reply
positively.

Simon Yi.

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