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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: cooped <cooped@centennialcollege.ca>
Date: Sat, 8 Dec 2012 02:09:49 -0500
Subject: Forward Reply to my personal E-mail mr.vincentcheng60@yahoo.com.hk



Good Day

I am Mr.Vincent Cheng Hoi Chuen, GBS, JP Chairman of the Hong Kong and
Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited.

Our Client, Gen Zaiki Taha Abdel, a businessman and also who was with
the Iraqi forces, made a fixed deposit,of Thirty million Five
Hundred Thousand United State Dollars only in my branch, a number of
notices was sent to him, before the war which began in 2003 and also
after the war but, no response came from him. We later found out that
the General along with his wife and only daughter had been killed
during the war in a bomb blast that hit their home.

After more inquiry it was also discovered that the late Gen. did not
declare any next of kin in his official papers including the paper
work of his bank deposit.
What bothers me most is according to the laws of my country at the
expiration of 11 years the funds will be revert to the ownership of the
Hong Kong Government if nobody comes for the funds,Against this
scenery, I have all the information needed to claim these funds and I
want you to act as the beneficiary of the deposit, there
is no risk involved in this matter, as we are going to adopt a
legitimate method and the attorney will prepare all the necessary
documents.

All I require is your honest co-operation and I guarantee that this
will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you
from any breach of the law.
Please accept my apologies, keep my confidence and disregard this
email if you do not appreciate this proposition I have offered
you.Reply Via Email: (mr.vincentcheng60@yahoo.com.hk)

All confirm-able documents to back up the claims will be made
available to you prior to your acceptance.
I will let you know what is required of you.

Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.

Best Regards,
Mr.Vincent Cheng

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