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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: "Simon Wong" <simonwong6@msn.com>
Reply-To: simwong22@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2005 08:52:05 +0000
Subject: Attention

MR.SIMON WONG
DAH SING BANK LTD.
DES VOEUX RD.BRANCH,
CENTRAL HONG KONG,
HONK KONG.
email:simwong22@yahoo.com.hk

I am Mr.Simon Wong, credit officer of the Dah Sing Bank Ltd.I have a
concealed business suggestion for you.Before the U.S and Iraqi war,our
client General.Hassan Fazi who was with the Iraqi forces and also business
man made a numbered fixed deposit for 18 calendar months, with a value of
Fourty Three Million,Six Hundred Thousand United State Dollars only in my
branch.Upon maturity several notice was sent to him,even during the war
early this year.Again after the war another
notification was sent and still no response came from him.

We later find out that the General and his family had been killed during the
war in bomb blast that hit their home.After further investigation it was
also discovered that Gen. Hassan Fazi did not
declare any next of kin in his official papers including the paper work of
his bank deposit. And he also confided in me the last time he was at my
office that no one except me knew of his deposit in my bank.So,Fourty Three
Million,Six Hundred Thousand United State Dollars is still lying in my bank
and no one will ever come forward to claim it What bothers me most is that
according to the the laws of my country at the expiration three years the
funds will revert to the ownership of the Hong Kong Government if nobody
applies to claim the funds.Against this backdrop, my suggestion to you is
that I will like you as a foreigner to stand as the next of kin to
Gen.Hassan Fawzi so that you will be able to receive his funds.

WHAT IS TO BE DONE:
I want you to know that I have had everything planned out so that we shall
come out successful. I have contacted an attorney that will prepare the
necessary document that will back you up as the next of kin to Gen.Hassan
Fawzi ,all that is required from you at this stage is for you to provide me
with your full Names and address so that the attorney can commence his
job.After you have been made the next of kin,the attorney will also fill in
for claims on your behalf and secure the necessary approval and letter of
probate in your favor for the move of the funds to an account that will be
provided by you. There is no risk involved at all in the matter as we are
going adopt a legalized method and the attorney will prepare all the
necessary documents.Please endeavor to observe utmost discretion in all
matters concerning this issue. Once the funds have been transferred to your
nominated bank account we shall share in the ratio of 70% for me, 25% for
you and 5% for any expenses incurred during the course of this
operation.Should you be interested please send me your private phone and fax
numbers for easy communication, you can write me via my private box thus
(simwong22@yahoo.com.hk) and i will provide you with more details of
this operation. Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.

Kind Regards,

Mr.Simon Wong.


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