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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: "mark cheong" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <markcheong1@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Apr 2011 07:30:42 +0100
Subject: READ URGENTLY

Oversea Chinese Banking Corporation Ltd (OCBC Bank)
65 Chulia Street 29-02/04 OCBC Centre
Singapore 049513
Singapore.



I am very please to notify you again, that you were listed

as a beneficiary to the total sum of $ 12.500, 000.00

(Twelve Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States

dollars) of a deceased who may relate to you (perhaps) in

Singapore died five years ago in Tsunami tragedy in

Indonesia (name withheld for security reason) who died

intestate with no Will or Next of Kin. To maintain the level

of security required I have intentionally left out the final

details.

I contacted you because you bear the same LAST NAME identity

and therefore can present you as the (Next of Kin) to the

inheritance claim. I therefore reckoned that you can receive

these funds as you are qualified by your last name identity.

I urge you to come forward since I can provide you with the

details needed for you to claim the estate / capital so that

I can be gratify by you, in this way 50% of the claim will

be for you and 50% will be for me and my colleagues that

will do all the crucial part in the bank to have the claim

release to you promptly.
To affirm your willingness and cooperation, please do so by

replying me with your FULL NAME, OCCUPATION, DATE OF BIRTH,

TELEPHONE NUMBER, FAX NUMBER, PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS AND

POSTAL ADDRESS.
I do expect your prompt response.




Sincerely,
Mark Cheong.





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