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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: Mrs. Zhang Xing <m.zhangxing@tvnetwork.hu>
Reply-To: adams121972@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:13:39 +0100
Subject: PRIVATE OFFER.


Good Day, My name is Mrs. Zhang Xing, I am 73 yrs old and I am dying. I am
from Hong Kong; Today I have decided to donate what I have to the poor. I
am diagnosed with esophageal cancer for about 2 years ago and now I have
few months to live, according to medical experts. I want you to help me
donate from what I have inherited from my late father to the poor and
needy.

I want this to be the good work I did on earth before I die. I have
decided to WILL/donate the sum of Nine million, five hundred Thousand
United States Dollars ($9,500,000.00) which I have with a bank abroad to
you to help the poor and needy. At the moment I cannot take any telephone
calls right now due to the fact that my relatives are around me, they have
squandered the funds I gave them for this same purpose before and because
of my health status also.

I have adjusted my WILL and my lawyer is aware of it. I wish you all the
best and may you be blessed abundantly for this purpose. Please use the
funds judiciously and always extend the good work to others.
20% of the funds you shall keep for yourself for a work well done and for
your effort and time. I want you to contact my lawyer Barrister Adam
Gibson with the email email adams121972@hotmail.com and he will instruct
you on what step to take.

I hope you find peace and joy in your endeavors.

Thanks and God bless.

Regards,

Mrs. Zhang Xing


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