419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "liche44@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Li Chen" <Chen@md.go.th>
Reply-To: liche44@w.cn
Date: Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:45:36 +0100
Subject: =?utf-8?Q?=5B*SPAM*=5D?=
Hello

If this email is not spam, click here to submit the signatures to FortiGuard - AntiSpam Service.

  
Dear Friend,

I am Li Chen, an account manager in China Trust Bank, a licensed bank 
incorporated in China Asia. I am getting in touch with you regarding a customer 
in my bank who died here in Asia without a next of kin and an investment worth 
millions of dollars placed in our bank some years ago,and i happened to be his 
accounts officer.

However,this deal will be executed under a legitimate arrangement since you 
bear the same last name with the deceased. I am contacting you independently 
and will intimate you more about myself and details of the project if and when 
I receive your response.

Kindly get back to me if you are interested in partnering with me on this 
project.Reply to this e-mail address:liche44@w.cn 

Sincerely,
Li Chen
Marine Department #!@I2H2 A'%2I-"

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam