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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: "Ming Hung Chen" <minghungchen@gala.net>
Reply-To: minghungchen27@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sun, 20 May 2012 15:31:44 +0300
Subject: Re:Hello

Good day to you,

It is with good spirit of heart I opened up this great opportunity to
you. My name is Ming Hung Chen, I presently work as a Senior Accounts
Director, Offshore Mortgage & Services with Bank of China, Hong Kong.
I Work as part of a bigger team that covers the entire Hong Kong
region. I have taken pains to find your contact through personal
endeavors.

On routine audit check, I discovered an investment accounts that have
been dormant for the last 7 yrs with monies totaling a little above
(US$22 Million). Banking regulation/legislation in Hong Kong demand
that I notify the fiscal authorities after a statutory time period of
7 yrs when dormant accounts of this type are called in by the monitory
regulatory bodies. The above fact underscores my reason of writing and
making the following proposal.

Upon my investigations of the said account reveals that the investor
died in 2005 the exact time the account was last operated, the said
investor died as a result of heart-related condition on March 12th
2005. His heart condition was due to the death of all the members of
his family in the tsunami disaster on the 26th December 2004 in
Sumatra Indonesia where they all lost their lives and no next of kin
to his estate has been found or has come forward all these years. I am
of the settled conviction that using my insider leverage, working with
you can secure the funds in the account for us instead of allowing it
pass as an unclaimed fund into the coffer of the Chinese Government.
All i need from you is to stand as the legal next of Kin.
This exactly is why i crave your participation and co-operation.

I have seized all relevant documents (Legal and Banking) including
access to the very account of the deceased. That will facilitate my
fronting you as the claimant/sole beneficiary of the decease
estate/huge capital (US$22 Million) and ultimately transfer the money
to any account nominated by you.

I shall however leave out the final details of this transaction till I
receive an affirmation of your desire to participate. Be assured that
I am on top of the situation. There will be no risk involved
whatsoever if you agree to come on board. Needless to say, UTMOST
CONFIDENTIALITY is of vital important.

I guarantee that the transaction will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect all from any bridge of law. To affirm
your willingness and cooperation to my proposal, please contact me
through my private email:minghungchen27@yahoo.com.hk stating the followings:

(1) Full Name:
(2) Contact Address:
(3) Occupation:
(4) Telephone:

Your prompt response will be highly appreciated.
Best Regards,
Mr. Ming Hung Chen
Snr.Accounts Director

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