419 scam: "Mr Tan Wong" <flmacedo@redetaho.com.br> re

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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:

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)
- ",500,000" (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)
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.
- tanwong773@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Tan Wong" <flmacedo@redetaho.com.br>
Reply-To: tanwong772@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 3 Jan 2010 00:41:35 -0300
Subject: re

FROM: TAN WONG
(tanwong773@gmail.com)

Let me start by introducing myself. I am Mr.Tan Wong 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 . Again after the war another notification was
sent and still no response came from him.We later found 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
Dollar($24,500,000,00) 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 9 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.I want you to know that I have had everything planned out
so that we shall come out successful so you have nothing to worry about.

1. YOUR NAME:
2. YOUR RESIDENT ADDRESS:
3. YOUR OCCUPATION:
4. YOUR PHONE NUMBER:
5. DATE OF BIRTH:
6. COUNTRY OF RESIDENT:

If interested please get back to me with the following details. and i wil
preffered you write me on this email address (tanwong773@gmail.com) which is
my private email address and finally after that i shall provide you with more
details of this operation.

Regards,

Tan Wong

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