419 scam: "Mr. Vincent Cheng" <vincheng05@gmail.com> Awaiting Response

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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:
- "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)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
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.
- vincentch4@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Vincent Cheng" <vincheng05@gmail.com>
Reply-To: vincentch4@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 00:47:31 +0800 (PHT)
Subject: Awaiting Response

Good Day,

I am Mr. Vincent Cheng Hoi Chuen, GBS, JP Chairman of the Hong Kong and
Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited.

I am contacting you in respect of BRIGADIER AMER ALI NAYEF, a businessman
and also who was with the Iraqi forces, who made a fixed deposit of Twenty
Two million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars only in my branch
in Hong Kong, in 2003. Subsequently a number of notices was sent to him,
in 2004 when the war in Iraq was still going on, but no response came from
him.

We later found out that Brigadier Amer Ali Nayef was shot dead along with
his son, Khalid Amer also in the force as they left the family home for
work in the south of the city. After more inquiry it was also discovered
that the late Brigadier, did not declare any next of kin in his official
papers including the paper work of his bank deposit. What bothers me most
is according to the laws of my country at the expiration of 6 years the
funds will be reverted to the ownership of the Hong Kong Government if
nobody comes for the funds, Against this scenery, I have all the
information needed to claim these funds and I want you to act as the
beneficiary of the deposit, there is no risk involved in this matter, as
we are going to adopt a legitimate method and the attorney in charge will
prepare all the necessary documents.

All I require is your honest co-operation and I guarantee that this will
be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any
breach of the law. Please accept my apologies, keep my confidence and
disregard this email if you do not appreciate this proposition I have
offered you.

All confirmable documents to back up the claims will be made available to
you prior to your acceptance and as soon as I receive your return mail Via
my email address ( vincentch4@yahoo.com.hk ) and I will let you know what
is required of you.

Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.

Best Regards,

Mr. Vincent Cheng

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam