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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: "Mr. Chan Wong" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <chanwong@superposta.com>
Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2013 17:31:25 +0100
Subject: =?utf-8?Q?Spam?=
Partnership Request!

Attn: The President / CEO

Urgent Telegraphic / Swift Transfer of USD35M

I am Mr. Chan Wong, Group Managing Director (GMD) / Chairman Debt Reconciliation Committee Hong Kong Highways Department (HKHD); I got your contact from worldwide database and yellow pages encyclopedia after due consideration believing you are highly respected personality. Although, I do not know to what extent you are familiar with events, hence I contact you.

Firstly, I must solicit your strictest confidence in this transaction; this is by virtue of its nature as being utterly confidential and “TOP SECRET” with great magnitude involving a pending transaction requiring maximum confidence, I am sure and have confidence of your ability and reliability to prosecute this magnificent transaction. The new government has principally mandated me to review and offset all contractors outstanding overdue payments on contracts awarded since May 1998 to, June 2009, under the regimes of the former Heads of State.

Respectively, In May 2001, a contract worth USD285M was awarded to a foreign company by Hong Kong Highways Department (HKHD) for Maintenance of Highway Structures in Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New Territories 2002-2005. I deliberately over-invoiced the contract with USD35M. Actually the company that executed the contracts has been fully paid and the projects were completed and officially commissioned.

Therefore, due to epigrammatic decision to redefine the outstanding payment I am presenting you as the beneficiary who will present original invoice to re-apply and to substitute the foreign company which upon its presentation to Central Bank of Hong Kong (CBHK) your designated bank account will be credited unconditionally. On receipt of your immediate response, we shall discuss the compulsory modalities. I have all necessary documents / approvals to secure the transfer in your favour.

Note as a mandatory, I wish to make the clarifications as follows: That you will be entitled to share 40% of the total funds and 60% will be my share. I consequently request your maximum assistance and approvals to facilitate the transfer of the above funds from Central Bank of Hong Kong (CBHK), where these funds are deposited.

Upon confirmation of your readiness to execute this magnificent transaction with me, you will be urgently required to furnish your companies letter headed paper signed & stamped and the following:

1) Bank Name & Address
2) Bank phone/fax numbers
3) Bank Swift Code or Routing Number
4) Account number and Account name
5) Your full name and address
6) Please send to me also your direct Telephone and fax
7) Copy of your international Passport
8) Your company name and registration number

In conclusion, I guarantee that this operation will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect us from any breach of law.

Best regards,

Mr. Chan Wong
Hong Kong Highways Department HKHD

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