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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Hung Au" <gold1@aol.com>
Reply-To: <h_au h_au@aol.com>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2014 03:02:26 -0700
Subject: URGENT MATTER

URGENT MATTER
Attn: The President / CEO
Dear Sir,
Urgent Telegraphic / Swift Transfer of: USD$45,000,000.00 (Thirty Five Million United States Dollars Only)
I am Mr. Hung Au, Group Managing Director (GMD) / chairman debt reconciliation committee Hong Kong Highways Department (HKHD); I got your contact from January, 2013 worldwide database and yellow pages encyclopedia after due consideration believing you are highly respected personality. Although, I do not know to what extent you are familiar with events, hence I contact you.
Firstly, I must solicit your strictest confidence in this transaction; this is by virtue of its nature as being utterly confidential and “TOP SECRET” with great magnitude involving a pending transaction requiring maximum confidence, I am sure and have confidence of your ability and reliability to prosecute this magnificent transaction. The new government has principally mandated me to review and offset all contractors outstanding overdue payments on contracts awarded since May 2009 to, June 2013, under the regimes of the former heads of state.
Respectively, In May 2009, a contract worth USD$285,000,000.00 ( Two Hundred & Eighty-Five Million United States Dollars Only) was awarded to a foreign company by Hong Kong Highways Department (HKHD) for Maintenance of Highway Structures in Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New Territories 2009-2013. I deliberately over-invoiced the contract with USD$45,000,000.00 (Forty Five Million United States Dollars Only). Actually the company that executed the contracts has been fully paid and the projects were officially commissioned.
Therefore, due to epigrammatic decision to redefine the outstanding payment I am presenting you as the beneficiary who will present original invoice to re-apply and to substitute the foreign company which upon its presentation to Central Bank of Hong Kong (CBHK) your designated bank account will be credited unconditionally. On receipt of your immediate response, we shall discuss the compulsory modalities. I have all necessary documents / approvals to secure the transfer in your favor.
Note as a mandatory, I wish to make the clarifications as follows: That you will be entitled to share 50% of the total funds and our officials will share the remaining 50% of the fund. I consequently request your maximum assistance and approvals to facilitate the transfer of the above funds from Central Bank of Hong Kong (CBHK), where these funds are deposited. upon confirmation of your readiness to execute this magnificent transaction with me, you will be urgently required to furnish your companies letter headed paper signed & stamped, private telephone & fax numbers, bank name and address, your corporate bank account Number. In conclusion, I guarantee that this operation will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect us from any breach of law.
Please take note; I' m outside Hong Kong presently due to urgent international conference in Switzerland and i want to ensure that all the necessary preparation is done while i am away from my country. I want you to immediately indicate your interest to help me so that i can get in touch with you while I am in Switzerland and get the necessary information to get the fund transferred to you. So please contact me on this private email for further details in regards to this proposal with your full name and Telephone/Mobile Phone.
Best Regards,
Mr.Hung Au
E-mail mrhungau1@aol.com
Hong Kong Highways Department (HKHD)
 

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