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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. GORDON CHEN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ggchen19601@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 10 Nov 2013 15:15:02 -0700
Subject: Confidential Information for you alone.

Mr. Gordon Chen
Vice President & Branch Manager
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (USA) NA
San Gabriel Branch
168 West Valley Boulevard
San Gabriel, CA 91776, USA.
 
Dear friend,
 
Good day to you, I am Mr. Gordon Chen, Vice President and Branch Manager of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (USA) NA, San Gabriel Branch California USA.
I have a business proposal to discuss with you, kindly give me your consent to discuss this with you.
 
 
I will be waiting to hear from you.
 
Yours truly,
Gordon Chen
Vice President & Branch Manager,
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (USA) NA

Anti-fraud resources: