419 scam: "Mr. Tan Wong" <tanwong@hangsengbank.com> GET BACK TO ME URGENTLY

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "with your full names" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "to your nominated bank account" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "hundred thousand united state dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- ",500,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- tanwong72@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Tan Wong" <tanwong@hangsengbank.com>
Reply-To: tanwong72@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:22:38 -0300
Subject: GET BACK TO ME URGENTLY

From Mr Tan Wong
(tanwong72@gmail.com)

Let me start by introducing myself. I am Mr.Tan Wong director of operations
of the Hang Seng Bank Ltd. I have an obscured business suggestion for
you.Before the U.S and Iraqi war our client Major c who was with the Iraq
forces and also business man made a numbered fixed deposit for 1 calendar
months, with a value of Twenty Four millions Five Hundred Thousand United
State Dollars only in my branch. Upon maturity several notice was sent to
him, even during the war . Again after the war another notification was sent
and still no response came from him.We later found out that the Major and his
family had been killed during the war in bomb blast that hit their home.
After further investigation it was also discovered that Major Fadi Basem 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
millions Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollar($24,500,000,00) 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 9 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 Major Fadi
Basem 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 will contact my attorney to prepare the necessary
document that will back you up as the next of kin to Major Fadi Basem ,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
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 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.Once the fund have been transferred to your nominated bank account we
shall share in the ratio of 55% for me, 40% for you and 5% will be use to pay
back any partner at the ending of the transfer for any money spent in the
process of the transfer. Should you be interested please send me your full
names and current residential address and I will prefer you to reach me on
this email address(tanwong72@gmail.com) which is my private email address 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.Tan Wong.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam