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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.Johnson Chau Lee." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnsonchaulee@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 19:07:39 +0100
Subject: Reach Mr.Johnson Chau Lee Asap

Greetings To You,

It is understandable that you might be a little bit apprehensive because you do
not know me, please forgive this unusual manner to contact you, but this
particular letter/email is of exceptional and very private in nature, as by
virtue of my vantage position in the bank (which i can only tell you the name as
soon as i hear from you.), I have a lucrative business proposal of mutual
interest to share with you. There is no way for me to know whether i will be
properly understood, but it is my duty to write and reach out to you, TRUSTING
that you will give this proposal a positive consideration.
I am Mr.Johnson Chau Lee. a South Korean, 55 years old and happily married with
children, and I am a staff of a reputable bank, in charge of the International
Remittance Department. I will need you to assist me in executing a business
project from our bank worth US$25.5 Million. These funds were deposited with our
bank by a customer of our bank who is a national {citizen} of your
country/region, who unfortunately died in the December 2004 Asia Tsunami
disaster.
For more on this natural disaster click on these links:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_4530000/newsid_4537600/4537601.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4381395.stm
The deceased account has been declared dormant since 2006 and these funds will
be confiscated/declared unserviceable and turned over to the government if the
deceased business associates or next-of-kin did not claim this money; since all
efforts to trace any living relative of the deceased proved abortive,i have
decided that i will have you claim this money as the deceased business
associate/or next-of-kin. With the assistance of the Lawyer i am going to
employ, everything concerning this transaction shall be LEGALLY done without any
hitch, as i was the deceased account officer.
Please endeavour to observe utmost discretion in all matters concerning this
issue, as i hope that you are a sincere,honest,matured person and above all
TRUSTWORTHY. Once the funds have been successfully transferred into your
account, we shall share it in a ratio of 30% for you, 65% for me and my
associates in the bank and the reminder 5% to take care of contingencies.
For now,i will prefer you reach me on my private email address and finally after
that i shall furnish you with more information about this operation. I am
counting on your anticipated co-operation for a successful and hitch free
business transaction between us, that will be mutually beneficial, for a start
oblige me these Information:-
1. Your Full name{s}:-
2. Current contact address:-
3. Your present Occupation:-
4. Your age:-
5. Contact phone Numbers:-
6. Private email:-

Please if you are not interested delete this email and do not hurt me because i
am putting my career and the life of my family at stake with this venture.
Although nothing ventured is nothing gained.
Do give this proposal SERIOUS AND POSITIVE CONSIDERATION.
Your earliest response to this letter will be highly appreciated. Reach Me Asap

Kind Regards,
Mr.Johnson Chau Lee.
PLEASE REPLY TO MY PRIVATE EMAIL;johnsonchaulee@yahoo.com.hk

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