419 scam: "Yuan Gao"<yuangao299@gmail.com> Benefit Proposal

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "with your full names" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "00,000.00" (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.
- yuangao798@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Yuan Gao" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <yuangao798@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2013 19:06:45 +0100
Subject: Benefit Proposal

Hello,
This is achievable with your cooperation. A client died several years ago and left unclaimed funds in an account in the bank where I work as Director for Credit & Marketing, Bank Of China .I found out that these fund can be released to a foreign body, hence I am seeking your assistance to claim a huge amount of $17,300,000.00 USD left in our bank by the client for our mutual benefit. Our advantage in this deal is that nobody has ever contacted my bank for the funds since the death of the client so my bank will take your contact very seriously and act promptly. This is an opportunity of a lifetime.

In 2007, Masum Suhaim (a factory owner) who was our Client, made a fixed deposit of Seventeen Million Three Hundred Thousand United State Dollars only in my branch, a number of notices were sent to him when it was due, but no response came from him till date. We later found out that Masum, along with his family had been killed in Jalawla, Iraq. What bothers me most is according to the laws of my country at the expiration of 6 years the funds will revert to the Hong Kong Government if nobody comes for the funds, Against this scenery, I have all the information needed to claim these funds.

What I expect from you is trust and commitment, I want this large sum of money transferred with your assistance and you should have nothing to worry about regarding legality at all. All that is required is your honest co-operation and I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect me and you from any breach of the law. I have exclusive access to his file, you will be made the beneficiary of these funds. You do not have to have known him. I know this might be a bit heavy for you but please trust me on this. For all your troubles I propose that we split the money 60% for me 40% for you. In the banking circle this happens every time.

Please accept my apologies, keep my confidence and disregard this email if you do not appreciate this proposal I have offered you. All conformable documents to back up this fund shall be made available to you as we move on, however I shall be waiting for your response and assurance along with your full names and private contacts (ADDRESS, PHONE & FAX) just as they will appear on the documents to process the claims. Please do not betray my confidence. If we can be of one accord, we should act swiftly on this. If you are interested reply to yuangao798@yahoo.com.hk and I will send you further details.

Thank y

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