419 scam: "David Chow"<email@email.org> DEAR SIR/MADAM,

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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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "to your nominated bank account" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "David Chow" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <davidchow148@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 17 May 2012 22:36:49 +0800
Subject: DEAR SIR/MADAM,

Attn:Sir/Madam,

I anticipate that you read this mail quickly and let me know your opinion or willingness on this classified information that I will release to you.

Firstly, I am Mr.David Chow,the regional manager of the Citic Bank Of China. I am writing to solicit your assistance in the transfer of Ten million seven hundred fifty thousand dollars (10,750.000.00) .

This fund is the excess of what my branch in which I am the manager made as profit during the last three years. I have already submitted an approved End of the Year report to my Head Office here in China and they will never know of this Excess. I have since then, placed this amount of (10,750.000.00) On a SUSPENSE ACCOUNT without a beneficiary.

As an officer of the bank, I cannot be directly connected to this money thus I am impelled to request for your assistance to receive this money into your bank account. I intend to give 35% of this fund to you while 65% shall be for me.

I do need to stress that there are practically no risk involved in this. It is going to be a bank-to-bank transfer to your nominated bank account anywhere you feel safer. All I need from you is to stand as the original depositor of this fund.

If you accept this offer, I will appreciate your timely response.

With Regards,

David Chow.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam