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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: "Mr.Peter Lee" <petrlee5@aim.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 11:15:36 +1000
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL FOR YOU, FROM HONG KONG!!!!

Greetings!


URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL FOR YOU, FROM HONG KONG!!!!


It is understandable that you might be a little bit apprehensive because
you do not know me, Please forgive this unusual manner to contact you, but
this particular letter/email is of exceptional and very private nature,as by
virtue of my vantage position in Hang Seng Bank Ltd -Hong Kong i have a
lucrative business proposal of mutual interest to share with you.There is no
way for me to know whether I will be properly understood, but it is my duty
to write and reach out to you,TRUSTING that you will give this proposal a
positive consideration.I am Mr.P. Lee a South Korean,55 years old and
happily married with grown-up children, and i am an Executive Director of
Hang Seng Bank Ltd,in charge of the International Remittance department.I
will need you to assist me in executing a business project from our bank
worth US$25.5 Million.These funds were deposited with our bank by a customer
of our bank who is a national{citizen} of your country,who unfortunately
died in the December 2004 Asia Tsunami disaster .For more on this natural
disaster click on these links:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_4530000/newsid_4537600/4537601.stm
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/02/19/tsunami.bush.clinton/index.
html
http://www.smh.com.au/news/Asia-Tsunami/Tsunami-survivors-face-disease-star
vation/2004/12/28/1103996558253.htmlhttp://www.globalsecurity.org/eye/andama
n-us.htm

The deceased account has been declared dormants since 2006 and these funds
will be confiscated/declared unserviceable and turned over to the Hong Kong
government if the deceased business associates or next-of-kin did not claim
this money;since all efforts to trace any living relative of the deceased
proved abortive,i have decided that i will have you claim this money as the
deceased business associate/or next-of-kin,since you are from the same
country and perhaps have some similarities in certain areas.Everything
concerning this transaction shall be LEGALLY done without hitch,as i was the
deceased account Officer and all the relevant documents of this deposit were
kept under my care.Please endeavour to observe utmost discretion in all
matters concerning this issue,as i hope that you are a
sincere,honest,matured person and above all

TRUSTWORTHY.Once the funds have been successfully transferred into your
account, we shall share it in a ratio of 30% for
you,65% for me and my assocaites in the bank and the reminder 5% to take
care of contingencies.I will prefer you reach me on my private email address
below:(petrlee5@aim.com ) and finally after that I shall furnish you with
more information about this operation.I am counting on your anticipated
co-operation for a successful and hitch free business transaction between
us,that will be mutually beneficial,for a start oblige me these
information:-1.Your Full name{s}:-

2.Current contact address:-3.Your present Occupation:-

4.Your age:-5.Contact phone numbers{Office and Mobile{cell}:-Please if you
are not interested delete this email and do not hurt me because I am putting
my career and the life of my family at stake with this venture.Although
nothing ventured is nothing gained,as it is said,the taste of the pudding is
in the eating,do give this proposal SERIOUS AND POSITIVE CONSIDERATION.Your
earliest response to this letter will be highly appreciated.

Kind regards,

Mr.Peter Lee

Hang Seng Bank Limited
Hong Kong.{Asia}



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