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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: "LIN CHEN HUANG" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <linchen33@live.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Dec 2011 13:00:14 -0800
Subject: BUSINESS/PARTNERSHIP PROPOSAL

 
 
Dear
 
I am Mr. Lin Chen Huang Manager Asset Management Department for the Dah Sing Bank in Hong Kong. I am getting in touch with you regarding the estate of a deceased client with similar last name and investment placed under our banks management many 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. l contact you independently and no one is informed of this communication. In 2000 the subject matter; Mr. Thomas Costin came to our bank to engage in business discussion with our private banking division. He informed us that he has a financial portfolio of $12,350 million( Twelve Million Three Hundred and Fifty ThousandUnited States Dollars) which he wished to have us invest on his behalf.
 
Based on my advice, we spun the money around various opportunities and made attractive margins for our first months of operation, the accrued profit and interest stood at this point at over $1.8 Million United States Dollars. In mid 2002, he instructed that the principal sum(12,350M) be liquidated because he needed to make an urgent investment requiring cash payments in Hong Kong. We got in touch with a specialist bank in Hong Kong the Dah Sing Bank(DSB)who agreed to receive the money for a fee and make cash available to Mr. Costin. However Dah Sing Bank got in touch with us this year that the money has not been claimed. On further enquires, we found out that Mr. Costin was involved in an accident in Mainland China, on further enquiry we found out that he died intestate. He has no next of kin and the reason l am writing you is because you are namesakes.
 
What I propose is that since l have exclusive access to his file, you will be made the beneficiary of these funds. My bank will contact you informing you that money has been willed to you. On verification, which will be details which l make available to my Bank, my bank will instruct DBS to make payment to you. You do not have to known him. l know that this might be bit heavy on you but just trust me on this. For all your troubles l propose that we split the money equal. In the banking circle this happens every the times.
The option is that the money will revert back to the states.
 
Nobody is getting hurt; this is a life time opportunity for us. I hold the key to these funds and as a Chinese National we see much cash and funds been re-assigned daily. I would want us to keep communication by now strictly by email.
 
Please again, note l am a family man; I have a wife and children. I sent you this mail not without a measure of fear as to the consequences, but l know within me that nothing ventured is nothing gained and success and riches never come easy on a platter of gold. This is one truth l have learned from my private banking clients. Do not betray my confidence. If we can be of one accord, we should act swiftly on this. Please get back to me via email above and let me know if you intend to assist me in this ones in a life time opportunity.
 
I await your response.
 
Lin Chen Huang.

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