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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "Chuo Miu" <chuomiu_2005@msn.com>
Date: Mon, 05 Dec 2005 05:29:50 +0000
Subject: Assistant Director Of Operations of the Hang Seng Bank Ltd

FROM:MR.CHOU MUI
HANG SENG BANK LTD,
HONG KONG.

Let me start by introducing myself. I am Mr. Chou Mui Assistant Director Of
Operations of the Hang Seng Bank Ltd,Sai Wan Ho Branch,171 Shaukiwan Road
Hong Kong.

Before the U.S and Iraqi war, our client a business man made a numbered
fixed deposit of (346,736,899.68 HKD) for 18 calendar months, this is valued
to Fourty Four million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars only in my
branch. Upon maturity several notice was sent to him, even during the war,
two years ago (2003). Again after the war another notification was sent and
still no response came from him. We later found out that Hamadi Hashem and
his family had been killed during the war in bomb blast that hit their home
at Mukaradeeb where his personal oil well was.

http://www.iraqmemorialwall.org/iraqicasualties.html
http://www.iraqbodycount.net/names.htm

After further investigation it was also discovered that Hamadi Hashem 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 Four
million Five 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 laws of my country at the expiration four years six months
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 Hamadi Hashem so that you will be
able to receive his funds.

WHAT IS TO BE DONE:

I want you to know that I have 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 Hamadi Hashem , 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 file in for claims on
your behalf and secure the necessary approval and letter of probate in your
favour 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.
Note that you will be highly compensated in your involvement
Should you be interested please send me your full names and current
residential address and I will prefer you to reach me on the email address
below.
E-mail:choumui_chou@yahoo.co.uk
And finally after that I shall provide you with more details of this
operation.

Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.

Kind Regards
Mr. Chou Mui


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