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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: Chang Shuming <shumingchang094@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2014 22:50:59 +0700
Subject: Confidential offer


Dear Sir/Madam,


I am Mr. Shuming Chang, a real estate agent in Shanghai. I have a business
offer to make which is urgent and financially beneficial to both of us. I
intend to send this unsolicited email because of the brevity of this offer,
moreover it is easier to work with a foreigner because it is more secured
and hassle free. I do advise you that you keep this information
confidential only between us.


There is a building property (2-storey) modernly furnished and situated in
busy Nanjing Road in Shanghai. The current owner of the property is a
foreigner from South/East Asia. She want to sale her property for
US$600,000.00 only (Six Hundred Thousand) due to her urgent need of money
for some personal reasons. I know her selling price is way more cheaper
compared to property of such in Shanghai. Therefore, I had quickly made an
advert and a private company in China is interested to buy this property
for US$3,000,000.00. (Three Millions).


I have already negotiated with the company and we agreed on the price but *I
do not want to inform current owner of the house and rather want to acquire
huge financial gains through this property. *

The reason why I contact you is because I want us to contribute funds and
pay the current owner of the property and you can keep the property
documents. Once we agree together to do, I will wire my own funds
contribution to your bank account (US$300,000.00), then you will add your
funds (US$300,000.00) to complete the selling price (US$600,000.00) of the
current owner and then send completed funds to current owner’s bank account
in her country of residence. The property will be sold to us but in your
names and I will register your names with our ministry of lands and
property as the current owner within 3 working days.

Once it is done, I will invite the company to purchase the property from
you as the current owner. This will hike the price since you are a
foreigner selling your property and they will pay to our provided bank
account sums of US$3,000,000.00 and which we share 60% for you, 40% for me.
This offer is really urgent as the company are always asking me when they
will come to make payment.


If you agree on my proposal, send me a reply and I will give you more
information and we will sign a MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) to ensure
our seriousness in this offer.



I look forward to doing business with you.


Kind regards,

Mr. Chang

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