419 scam: "simona.berger" <simona.berger@psychologie.ch> Pressing Issue

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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:
- "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)
- "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.
- mr.vincent_cheng@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "simona.berger" <simona.berger@psychologie.ch>
Reply-To: Mr.Vincent_Cheng@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 29 Dec 2013 22:24:28 +0100
Subject: Pressing Issue

Good Day

I'm Mr.Vincent Cheng, GBS, JP Chairman of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited.

Our Client, Gen Zaiki Taha Abdel, a businessman and also who was with the
Iraqi forces, made a fixed deposit,of Thirty million Five Hundred Thousand
United State Dollars only in my branch, a number of notices was sent to him,
before the war which began in 2003 and also after the war but, no response
came from him. We later found 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 more inquiry it was also discovered that the late Gen. did not declare
any next of kin in his official papers including the paperwork of his bank
deposit.
What bothers me most is according to the laws of my country at the expiration
of 6 years the funds will be revert to the ownership of the Hong Kong
Government if nobody comes for the funds,Against this scenery, I have all the
information needed to claim these funds and I want you to act as the
beneficiary of the deposit, there is no risk involved in this matter, as we
are going to adopt a legitimate method and the attorney will prepare all the
necessary documents.

All I require is your honest co-operation and I guarantee that this will be
executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach
of the law. Please accept my apologies, keep my confidence and disregard this
email if you do not appreciate this proposition I have offered you.

All conformable documents to back up the claims will be made available to you
prior to your acceptance and as soon as I receive your return mail Via my
email address: (Mr.Vincent_Cheng@hotmail.com) and I will let you know what is
required of you.

Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.

Best Regards,
Mr.Vincent Cheng

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam