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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: "Zhang" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <rodriguezzhang@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2015 01:36:26 -0500
Subject: Read carefully and reply as soon as possible

Hello
I am Rodriguez Zhang, Head of Offshore Banking at Bank of Ningbo, China. I am getting in touch with you regarding the estate of Michael that bear the same
last name as yours and an investment placed under our bank's management 8 years ago.
I would respectfully request that you keep the contents of this mail confidential and respect the integrity of the information you come by as a
result of this mail. I contact you independently and no one is informed of this communication. In 2005, the subject matter; Michael came to our bank to engage
in business discussions with our private banking division. He informed us that he had a financial portfolio of US$37.000.000.00 United States dollars, which he
wished to have us invest on his behalf.
Based on my advice, we spun the money around various opportunities and made attractive margins for our first months of operation, the accrued profit and
interest stood at $6.350.000.00 United States Dollars, which brings the total portfolio to US$43.350.000.00. In mid 2007, he instructed that
US$3.000.000.00 be wired to an account in Canada while the balance (US$40.350.000.00) be liquidated because he needed to make an urgent investment
requiring cash payments in Singapore . We got in touch with a specialist bank in Singapore (Credit Suisse Singapore office) who agreed to
receive this money for a fee and make cash available to Michael.
However Credit Suisse Singapore office got in touch with us last year that this money has not been claimed. On further enquiries we found out that Michael was
involved in an accident in Mainland China , which means he died intestate. He has no next of kin and the reason I am writing you is because you are name
sakes.
What I propose is that since I have exclusive access to his file, you will be made the beneficiary of these funds. My bank will contact you informing you that
money has been willed to you. On verification, which will be the details I make available to my bank, my bank will instruct Credit Suisse to make payments to
you. You do not have to have known him. I know this might be a bit heavy for you but please trust me on this. For all your troubles I propose that we split the
money(US$40.350.000.00) in half. In the banking circle this happens every time. The other option is that the money will revert back to the state. Nobody is
getting hurt; this is a lifetime opportunity for us. I hold the KEY to these funds, and as a Chinese National we see so much cash and funds being re-assigned
daily. I would want us to keep communication for now strictly by the below Email.
Please, again, note I am a family man; I have a wife and children. I send you this mail not without a measure of fear as to t the  consequences, but I know
within me that nothing ventured is nothing gained and that success and riches never come easy or on a platter of gold. This is the one truth I have learned
from my private banking clients. Do not betray my confidence. If we can be of one accord, we should act swiftly on this. Please pardon my writing mistakes.
Please get back to me immediately via the Email as stated below.
Awaiting your immediate response.
rodriguezzhang@yahoo.com.hk
Best Regards
Rodriguez Zhang

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