419 scam: "HK"<info@somfy.com> 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:

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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- zhyanlai@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "HK" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <zhyanlai@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sat, 17 Jul 2010 22:53:37 +0200
Subject: Dear Friend.

Dear Friend,

It is understandable that you might be a little bit apprehensive because you do not know me, Please forgive this unusual manner to contact you, but this particular letter is of exceptional and very private nature, as by virtue of my vantage position in the Bank of China Hong Kong I have a lucrative business proposal of mutual interest to share with you. There is no way for me to know whether you will be properly understood, but it is my duty to write and reach out to you, TRUSTING that you will give this proposal positive consideration.

I got your contact through my search in the internet of your country housing registration chamber and please, keep this proposal personally. I am from Hong Kong and I speak Chinese, Cantonese and English languages. I have a special Language Translating machine i am using to translate my message to your local language and this is because of the privacy/urgency of this proposal.

I am Ms. Zhu Yanlai, 55 years old with grown-up children, and i am the Assistant Chief Executive of Bank of China Hong Kong in charge of overall leadership for the planning and implementation of the Group’s strategy, business direction and sustainable development. I will need you to assist me in executing a business project from our bank worth US$25.5 Million. These funds were deposited with our bank by a customer who is a national {citizen} of your country, who unfortunately died in December 26, 2004 in Asia Tsunami disaster.

For more on this natural disaster click on these links:-

http://www.globalsecurity.org/eye/andaman-us.htm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_4530000/newsid_4537600/4537601.stm

For a start oblige me these information below:- Your Full name{s}, Current contact address, Your present Occupation, Your age, Contact phone numbers {Office and Mobile.

Your earliest response to this letter will be highly appreciated.

Kind regards,
Mdm. Zh (Assistant Chief Executive of Bank of China Hong Kong).
Awaiting your urgent reply via email: zhyanlai@yahoo.com.hk

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam