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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: "Joseph Poon" <jpoon702@yahoo.com.hk> (may be fake)
Reply-To: jpoon701@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 28 May 2010 10:22:29 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Please read carefully!!

Mr.Joseph Poon.
HANG SENG BANK LTD,
83, Des Voeux Road,
Central HK,
Hong Kong.

Let me start by introducing myself. I am Mr Joseph C.Y Poon. Director
ofoperations of the Hang Seng Bank Ltd. I have an obscured business
suggestion for you. Before the U.S and Iraqi war our client Gen. Hemood A.
Hemood who was with the Iraqi forces and also businessman made a numbered
fixed deposit for 18 calendar months, with avalue of Twenty Four million
Four Hundred Thousand United State Dollars only in my branch.
Upon maturity several notices was sent to him, even during the war which
began in 2003. Again after thewar another notification was sent andstill
no response came from him. We later find out that the General along with
his wife and only daughter had been killed during the war in a bomb blast
that hit their home. After further investigation it was also discovered
that Gen.Hemood A. Hemood 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, Twenty Four million Four Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars is still lying in my bank and no one will
know of it. What bothers me most is that according to the laws of my
country at the expiration of 3 years and 6 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 Gen. Hemood A.Hemood 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 an attorney that will prepare the necessary
document that will back you up as the next of kin to Gen. Hemood A.
Hemood, all that is requiredfrom 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 favour for the move of the funds to an account that will
be provided by you.There is no risk involved at all in this matter, as we
are going to 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. Should you be interested please send
me your following.

1,Full names,
2,Private phone number,
3,Current residential address.

And I will prefer you reach me on my private email address below;
(jpoon701@hotmail.com)

and finally after that I shall provide you with other details of this
operation.Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.
Kind Regards,
Mr. Joseph C.Y Poon.

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