419 scam: "Eric Cheung"<helpdesk@webmaster.org> Dear Friend,

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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:
- "dear friend" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Eric Cheung" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <eric.cheunge@hangsengg.org>
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10:09:27 +0100
Subject: Dear Friend,

Dear Friend,

An Iraqi named Haider Hanoon,a business man made a numbered fixed deposit of (346,736,899.68 HKD) for 18 calendar months, this is valued to Fourty Four million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars only in my branch. Upon maturity several notice was sent to him, even during the war, six years ago
(2003). Again after the war another notification was sent and still no response came from him. We later found out that Haider Hanoon and his family had been killed during the war in Gunfire that hit their home at Mukaradeeb where his personal oil well was.

My proposal to you is that I prepared to front you as the sole beneficiary of my deceased client so that i can instruct HANG SENG BANK to release the
deposit to you as the closest surviving relation. Upon receipt of the deposit, I am prepared to share the money with you in half 50/50 percentage.If interested do send me your full names,current home address,phone number,your occupation to this email account: eric.cheunge@hangsengg.org

Your earliest reply will be appreciated.

Yours Truly,
Dr.Cheunge Eric Li.
eric.cheunge@hangsengg.org

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam