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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. Vincent Lau" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lauvin86@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2011 18:05:00 -0700
Subject: Re: Confirm Receipt.

Asia Foreign Contractors Settlement Centre
Peoples Republic of China.
 
Attention: Sir,
 
I feel quite safe dealing with you in this business proposition having gonethrough your remarkable profile on the internet and as one of the leading profit oriented companies which I intend investing part of my money into any profitablebusiness you will introduce.
Though, this medium (Internet) has been greatly abused, I choose to reach you through it because it still remains the fastest, surest and most secured medium of communication.However,this Correspondence is unofficial and private, and it should be treated as such. Before I introduce myself, I wish to inform you that this letter is not a hoax or Scam mail and I urge you to treat it with the seriousness it deserves. I also guarantee you that this business is hitch free from all what you may think of.
 
I am Mr. Vincent Lau, 32yrs, male, single and the Audit Manager Asia Foreign Contractor’s Settlement Centre China Branch. My office monitors and controls all
foreign contract settlement here in Hubei Province of China. I am the final signatory to every payment files for the remittance of huge funds moving within both on the local and international levels in line with foreign claim
settlement. I have before me list of payment files, which have been identified either as an over-invoiced sum or ghost file. On this note, I wish to have a
deal with you as regards to this unpaid funds as I have the file before me and all datas are correct and it is my duty to recommend the transfer of these surplus funds to the Chinese Government Treasury and Reserve Accounts as unclaimed entitlements, I have the opportunity to write you based on the instructions received two days ago from the inland revenue board to submit the List of payment reports/expenditures and audited reports of revenues before the end of next week.
 
My Conditions:
 
1) After the processing of all relevant legal documents with your name as the bonfide beneficiary, I will personally endorse your file here in my desk and the sum of $4.5million will be insured and deposited with a bank here in China who will then contact you and forward to you an online account details created in your favor and once you receive the online account details from the bank here in China, you will immediately log-in into the online account with the details forwarded to you and personally make a direct transfer from the account to any account there in your country and once you confirm the transfer, I will then fly down to your country for my share and your advise on how I can invest into your line of business.
 
2) This business must be kept secret forever, and all correspondence will be strictly by email and telephone for security purposes no fax messaging please.
 
3) There should be no third parties as most problem associated with foreign fund release are caused by agents or representatives.
 
If you AGREE with my conditions, I want you to send to me now your
 
FULL NAME:
FULL ADDRESS :
and a DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER:
 
where I can call you and discuss in details and the business will commence without delay as I will proceed to fix your name on the Payment list instantly before the end of next week.
 
I hope you do not reject this offer and have your funds transferred.
 
Waiting for your reply soon.
 
Faithfully,
 
Mr. Vincent Lau
Audit Manager

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