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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "please endeavor to " (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)
  • "30% for you " (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)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - 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.
  • cheungpui3055@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: =?koi8-r?Q?cheung=20pui?= <cheungpui22@mail.ru>
Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2006 03:14:19 +0400
Subject: =?koi8-r?Q?NEEDED=20A=20TRUST=20WORTHY=20PERSON=20AS=20NEXT=20OF=20KIN=20YOUR=20EARLIEST=20RESPOND=20TO=20THIS=20LETTER=20WILL=20BE=20APPRECIATED.?=






Hang Seng Bank Ltd
Sai Wan Ho Branch
171 Shaukiwan Road
Hong Kong.

Dear friend,
Let me start by introducing myself. I am Mr. Cheung
Pui 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 Fadi
Basem who was with the Iraqi forces and also business
man made a numbered fixed deposit for 18 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 and again after the war another
notification was sent and still no response came from
him. We later find 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 Dollars 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 4 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 have
contacted an attorney that will 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 fill 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 funds have been transferred to your nominated
bank account we shall share in the ratio of 70% for
me, 30% for you . Should you be interested please send
me your full names and current residential address
and I will prefers you to reach me on the email
address below :
E-mail:cheungpui3055@yahoo.com.hk
Tel:852-301-61720
Fax:852-301-77578and finally after that i shall provide you with more
details of this operation.Your earliest response to
this letter will be appreciated.
Kind Regards,
Cheung Pui

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam