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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: "zhu" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <yanlaizyan@aim.com>
Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2011 22:25:37 +0100
Subject: Mail From Zhu Yanlai


Mail From Zhu Yanlai

Please open the attached file, for more details. I am Mdm. Zhu Yanlai,
the Assistant Chief Executive of Bank of China Hong Kong. I will need
you to assist me in executing a bussiness project worth US$25.5 Million.

I shall furnish you with more information about this operation when I
receive your responds. Your earliest response to this letter will be
highly appreciated.

Best Regards,
Mdm. Zhu Yanlai
Email: yanlaizyan@aim.com

Anti-fraud resources: