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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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: helenwong022@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2014 03:15:05 +0000
Subject:



--
Greetings to you,

I am Mrs. Helen Wong, from Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited.
(China)I have a business proposal of USD$30,000,000 (Thirty Million
United States Dollars Only) for you to transact with me from my bank,
which would be deposited in your name and transferred by you to your
country.

All confirmable documents to back up the claims will be made available
to you prior to your acceptance and as soon as I receive your return
mail via my email address: helenwong022@yahoo.co.jp and I will let
you know what is required of you.

Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.

Best Regards,
Mrs. Helen Wong


Anti-fraud resources: