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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: "LAN LEE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lee.lanc@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2011 04:41:02 -0000
Subject: Re: Exclusively To You

Good Day,

I am from Hong Kong, a Chinese, I have a Mutual business
proposal am proposing to you, that I will want you to handle
from your country, I will like to seek your consent first.

I have a serious business project proposal for you to manage
and handle for me in your country. This project involves a huge
specific amount which I can't mention here for security reasons.
It involve a transaction from my bank in Hong Kong. Am a Chinese
man, and we are bound by laws here.

If you feel you can have this handled, please let me know, so that
I send you an attached comprehensive details of this transaction.
Sincerely,
Lan Lee

Anti-fraud resources: