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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: "JOHN BRIGGS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnbriggs.solicitor@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Apr 2023 10:00:37 -0700
Subject: RE: DID YOU AUTHORIZE MR WONG TO CLAIM Y OUR FUND?/REPLY!

FOR YOUR ATTENTION
This is to inform you that one MR WONG HENG MENG approached me today for my legal representation in order to help him secure an AFFIDAVIT OF CLAIMS in our Court here so that a CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP can be issued to him to receive a fund that suppose to have been released to you.
My reason for contacting you today is to find out the truth as the Man have told me that you passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic and that you gave him the necessary authorization to claim the fund while you are still on the sick bed and it is in this regard that I decided to write this mail to you today to find out if his claim is actually true or not as I would not want to involve myself in any controversial financial issues that will affect my integrity based on my past ugly experience in such matters, though, the Man is not aware that I am contacting you now to find out the truth, so be informed.
Below are the details that he has forwarded to me to process for the CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP in his favor, thus:-
NAME: MR WONG HENG MENG
ADDRESS: 4-1 TAMAN JELUTONG, JALAN LENGGONG, 11600, PENANG, MALAYSIA
TEL NO: 6 01647521281
E-MAIL: wonghengmeng202@asia.com
BANK NAME: CIMB BANK BERHAD.
ADDRESS: PULAU TIKUS BRANCH, JALAN BURNAH, 19350, PENANG, MALAYSIA
A/C NAME: MR WONG HEN MENG.
A/C NO: 7020606596
SWIFT CODE: CIBBMYKL.
BANK TEL NO: +6 042267428
Be informed that once the CHANGE OWNERSHIP is issued to the man, the Bank in custody of the fund will release it to him immediately as this is the reason why you have to reply to this message urgently to confirm if you are still alive or not.
I will be looking forward to your prompt response to this message urgently.
Thanks for your understanding.
I remain yours in legal services
MR JOHN BRIGGS (LLB, LLM HONS PHD)
(Principal Attorney)

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