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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "WOO CHENG CHAMBERS" <bhnt193@slamss.net>
Reply-To: bar.woo_cheng@live.co.uk
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2008 03:23:40 +0000
Subject: Late Gen. Aadel Akgaal Bastaan Estate


Barrister Woo Cheng
WOO CHENG CHAMBERS
Email:bar.woo_cheng@live.co.uk


Good day Sir/Madam,

Let me start by introducing myself. I am Barrister Woo Cheng (esq.), a creditable lawyer of the Woo Cheng Chambers, Hong kong . I have an obscured business suggestion for you. Before the U.S and Iraqi war my client Gen. Aadel Akgaal Bastaan who was with the Iraqi forces and also businessman made a numbered fixed deposit for 18 calendar months, with a value of 15 Million US Dollars (Fifteen million United State Dollars only) in a branch of the Hang Seng Bank, Hong Kong . Upon maturity several notices was sent to him by the Bank, even during the war which began in 2003, He asked me as a personal friend and lawyer to help monitor his account. During the war my friend the General along with his wife and only daughter were killed during the war in a bomb blast that hit their home.
You can read more about the bombings on visiting these
sites below:

http://www.ccmep.org/usbombingwatch/2003.htm#3/19/03


Due to the hasty deposit of the funds Gen. Aadel Akgaal Bastaan 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 with the Hang Seng Bank. So, Fifteen million United State Dollars is still lying in an offshore bank and no one will ever come forward to claim it. What bothers me most is that according to the laws of Hong Kong 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 Gen. Aadel Akgaal Bastaan 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 prepare the necessary documents that will back you up as the next of kin to Gen. Aadel Akgaal Bastaan, all that is required from you at this stage is for you to provide me with your Full Names and Address so that I can commence my job. After you have been made the next of kin, I 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 this matter, as we are going to adopt a legalized method and I will prepare all the necessary documents involved. Please endeavor to observe utmost discretion in all matters concerning this issue. Should you be interested please send me the following details:
Full name:
Private phone/fax:
Residential 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
Barr. Woo Cheng.
Email: bar.woo_cheng@live.co.uk


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