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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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.

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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • wangqin005@netscape.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "wangqin qin" <wangqin01_68@msn.com>
Date: Wed, 01 Mar 2006 00:31:55 +0000
Subject: FROM MR. WANG QIN.

FROM THE DESK OF: MR.WANG QIN
HANG SENG BANK LTD. DES VOEUX RD.BRANCH CENTRAL HONG KONG HONG KONG.
Greetings,
With warm heart I offer my friendship, and greetings, and I hope this mail
meets you in good time. However strange or surprising this contact might
seem to you, as we have not met personally or had any dealings in the past.
I humbly ask that you take due consideration of its importance and immense
benefit.
I am Mr.Wang Qin, credit officer of Hang Seng Bank Ltd. I have an urgent and
very confidential business proposition for you. On June 6, 1998, a British
Oil consultant/contractor with the Chinese Solid Minerals Corporation, Mr.
Smith Lawrence made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar
months, valued at $48,000,000.00 (Forty-Eight Million American Dollars only)
in my branch. Upon maturity,I sent a routine notification to his forwarding
address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we
discovered from his contract employers, the Hong Kong Solid Minerals
Corporation that Mr. Smith Lawrence died from an auto-mobile accident. On
further investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL,and
all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore made
further investigation and discovered that Mr.Smith Lawrence did not declare
any kin or relations in all his official documents,including his Bank
Deposit paperwork in my Bank.This sum of $48,000,000.00 is still sitting in
my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the
end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it. According to
Laws of Hong Kong, at the expiration of (five) years,the money will revert
to the ownership of the Hong Kong Government if nobody applies to claim the
fund. Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to
stand in as the next of kin to Mr. Smith Lawrence so that the fruits of this
old man's labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt government
officials. This is simple, I will like you to provide immediately your full
names and address so that the attorney will prepare the necessary documents
and affidavits that will put you in place as the next of kin.We shall employ
the services of an attorney for drafting and notarization of the WILL and to
obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your
favor for the transfer. A bank account in any part of the world that you
will provide the will, then facilitate the transfer of this money to you as
the beneficiary/next of kin. The money will be paid into your account for us
to share in the ratio of 70%for me and 25% for you and 5% for Expenses
Incurred in the course of the transaction . There is no risk at all as all
the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the attorney and with my
position as the credit officer guarantees the successful execution of this
transaction. If you are interested, please reply immediately to my email
box. Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and
relevant documents that will help you understand the transaction. Please
send me your confidential telephone and fax numbers for easy communication.
You should observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this
transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require
your assistance to invest my share in your country.

For confidentiality Reasons, I advice that you respond strictly to this
email address: wangqin005@netscape.net
Awaiting your response.

Regards, Mr.Wang Qin.
wangqin005@netscape.net

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam