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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: "Mr.Cheng Yew." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrchengyew@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:09:25 -0800
Subject: From Mr. Cheng Yew Please Read and get back to me.

From: Mr. Cheng Yew.
Date: 16 Dec 2011

Good day and may the blessings of this day rest on you, hope you are in good health? Please do not take this unserious, i plead your pardon for my approach, ok. My name is Mr. Cheng Yew. I trained and work as an external auditor for the Development Bank of Singapore (DBS). I had taken pains to find your contact through personal endeavors.

A foreigner with thesame last name as yours, died here in Singapore, twelve years ago leaving behind an estate/capital
(US$31.8M with interest) here in DBS where I work, till date nobody has come forward or put application for the claim.

I can confirm with certainty that the said investor died intestate, no next-of-kin to his estate and no body came forward all these years. I am of the settled conviction that using my insider leverage, I, working with you can secure the funds in the account for us instead of allowing it pass as unclaimed funds into the coffers of the Government of Singapore.

This is especially possible as you bear the same LAST NAME to the said investor, of course you shall be handsomely
rewarded for your part in this transaction as me and my colleague are prepared to allocate a 20% of the total funds
for your efforts.

Affirm your willingness and cooperation please,by replying me stating your FULL NAME, DATE OF BIRTH, TELEPHONE NUMBER,FAX NUMBER, AND CONTACT ADDRESS.

I do expect you prompt response.

Thank you,
Mr.Cheng Yew.

Anti-fraud resources: