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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: "Hou Wang" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wanghou66@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2016 16:02:05 +0100
Subject: A Mutual Business Proposal.

Greetings,

I am Mr. Hou Wang working with Hang Seng Bank Hong kong; I have a highly mutual and legitimate Bequest for you to handle with me. This fund was highness and domiciled in our bank by an Oil Magnate who lived in Hong Kong for Twenty Eight years. He died along with his immediate family during the Tsunami Catastrophe which occurred December 2004.

In pursuant of the above plan, we choose you in this project especially because you bear the same last NAME with the said Investor. However, I can confirm with certainty that the said Investor died intestate in 2004 and no next-of-kin to his estate and nobody came forward all these years. I am of the settled conviction that using my insider leverage and working with you, we can secure the funds in the account for ourselves instead of allowing it pass as unclaimed funds and confiscated by corrupt Government official here in Hong Kong.

In this circumstance, I write to inquire your interest in this business investment which involves huge amount secured from our bank for the purpose of establishing a joint venture on Real Estate and Tourist Centre in your country. If you are willing to share these benefits with me, you can contact me for more details.

Best regards,
Mr. Hou Wang.

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