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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: WinstonChu <winston4chu@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2023 01:52:36 -0400
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSAL FOR YOU

Hello Friend,

Greetings to you.

How are you and your family? I trust you are well. I have a business
preposition of mutual benefit for you. My name is Winston Chu, an oil
business man made a fixed deposit of $35Million USD in my bank (HANG
SENG BANK) branch here in Hong Kong where i work as a Bank Director and
he died with his entire family of the pandemic Covid-19 disease, leaving
behind no next of kin.

I propose to present you as next of kin to claim the funds, if
interested contact me with your full name and telephone number to reach
you and most importantly, a confirmation of acceptance from you. I look
forward to speaking with you soon.


Yours Truly,
Winston Chu

--
Winston

Anti-fraud resources: