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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: "Mr Hwang Wu" <hwang.wu@guiyangintellectualpropertybureau.com>
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2011 00:04:00 +0000
Subject: Business Proposal

From The Desk of Hwang Wu
Telephone: 00 85258080534
hwang.wu@guiyangintellectualpropertybureau.com




I am Hwang Wu, I am involved with the Guiyang Intellectual property bureau which is in the Guizhou
province of mainland China. I am getting in touch with you regarding property investment that was
facilitated by myself and my colleagues a few years ago.
I would respectfully request that you keep the contents of this mail confidential and respect the
integrity of the information you come by as a result of this mail. I contact you independently and no one
is informed of this communication.

In 2007, following government directive on sale of certain empty property, we as government officials made
sure that the sale of a particular block of 80 flats in Guiyang was made to a certain individual. The
whole essence of this was the fact that we were able to down value the property because it needed a bit of
work. With the survey approved, the property was sold to our nominated investor for $17,000,000 (seventeen
million united states dollars). This obviously was not the actual value of the property.

With an investment of $5,000,000 (five million united states dollars). We were able to bring the property
back to government acceptable standard and then put it immediately back in the market for $60,000,000
(sixty million dollars). This has been approved in principle. A consortium of Japanese investors are ready
to make payment hence the reason for this communication. Due to the fact that the original investor is a
foreigner, proceeds from the sale has to go overseas.
We are government officials, that means we are not in any way to be linked with the sale of the property.
We had to use a foreign individual from the same country as you, also I believe in a similar industry as
well. The property is still in his name. All documents are to that effect. However in 2009 August he had
an automobile accident while on holiday in Dubai. He has passed on. He has no next of kin as he was never
married. Also he died without a WILL as it all happened too sudden.

What I propose is this: Since you are from the same country as the investor, I need you to help complete
this transaction by receiving the funds. We will get a lawyer over here that will get all the documents in
your name as the sole beneficiary of this estate. This is a straight forward transaction. All the hard
work has been done. Due diligence and compliance procedures have been carried out to get to this stage.
For all your effort I propose that you will get 40% of the profit. As it is now the profit is $38,000,000
(thirty eight million united states dollars).
Nobody is getting hurt; this is a lifetime opportunity for us. I would want us to keep communication for
now strictly by the above telephone and fax numbers or email address.
Please, again, note 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. Do not betray my confidence. If we can be of one accord, we
should act swiftly on this. Please pardon my writing mistakes. Please get back to me immediately via the
contact details above.

I await your response.

Hwang Wu

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