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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: "Jim Davis" <hisako_matsumura@hna.co.jp>
Reply-To: jimdavis1@onet.pl
Date: Sat, 07 Apr 2018 15:13:22 -0700
Subject: Hello,

Home Affairs Department
Estate Beneficiaries Support Unit
3rd Floor, Southorn Centre,
130 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

The Estate Beneficiaries Support Unit of the Home Affairs Department advertises in national and local newspapers when someone dies intestate and without known beneficiaries. It will give details of the person's name, where and when they died and the value of their estate. Of the numbers advertised which has created a very busy time for the genealogists who operate in this field, which has made these so-called heir hunters are in a race against time to piece together a family tree, find the relatives who are line for the inheritance and be the first to contact them.

However as a Management Staff, Records Department of the Estate Beneficiaries Support Unit, Home Affairs Department, Hong Kong, I am getting in touch with you regarding the estate of a Deceased client whose file I had safely tucked away, this client had dies Intestate, leaving no Last Will and Testament and an investment placed under one of our Hong Kong Bank’s Management. I want this large sum of money transferred with your assistance and you should have nothing to worry about regarding the legality AT ALL. What I require is your honest co-operation and I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect me and you from any breach of the law. What I propose is that since I have exclusive access to his file, you will be made the beneficiary of these funds. You do not have to have known him personally. 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 reasonably. In the banking circle this happens every time. The other option is that the money will revert back to the state.

The Treasury swallows £10bn every year from unclaimed estates anyway, so please accept my apologies.
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. All confirm able documents to back up this fund shall be made available to you as we proceed.

Your earliest Response to this letter will be appreciated.

Regards,

Jim Davis

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