419 scam: "Mr. Vincent Cheng" <mrcinfo.h.k.0.11@earthlink.net> Get Back To Me ASAP

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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:
- "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "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.
- infomeasaphk011@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Vincent Cheng" <mrcinfo.h.k.0.11@earthlink.net>
Reply-To: "Mr. Vincent Cheng" <infomeasaphk011@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:27:09 -0700 (GMT-07:00)
Subject: Get Back To Me ASAP

Mr. Vincent Cheng
Email: infomeasaphk011@gmail.com
Good Day

I know you do not know me and neither do I know you. I am not desperate nor in need of help. I only want to be sure you are the kind of person I can trust with the following proposal. I am Mr. Vincent Cheng Hoi-chuen, GBS, JP Chairman of The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited. I have a concealed business suggestion for you.

Our client General Abdelaziz Ali who was with the Iraqi forces and also businessman made a fixed deposit for 18 calendar months, with a value of Twenty one million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars only in my branch. Several maturities notices was sent to him, before the war which began in 2003. also after the war another notification was sent,and no response came from him. We later found out that the General along with his wife and only daughter had been killed during the war in a bomb blast that hit their home.

After more inquiry it was also discovered that this Gen.did not declare any next of kin in his official papers including the paper work of his bank deposit. And he also confided in me the last time he was at my office that no one except me knew of his deposit in my bank. What bothers me most is that according to the laws of my country at the expiration of 6 years the funds will revert to the ownership of the Hong Kong Government if nobody applies to claim the funds.

I want you to know that I have had everything planned out so that we shall come out successful. There is no risk involved at all in this matter, as we are going adopt a legalized method and the attorney will prepare all the necessary documents. Please endeavor to observe utmost discretion in all matters concerning this issue. Once the funds have been transferred to your nominated bank account we shall then share in the ratio of 60% for me, 40% for you.

Please endeavor to observe utmost discretion in all matters concerning this issue and also I wish to inform you that should you contact me via official channels; I will deny knowing you and about this project. I repeat, I do not want you contacting me through my phone lines nor do I want you contacting me through my official e-mail account. Contact me only through this e-mail address: infomeasaphk011@gmail.com and also if there be a need for me to call I will do the callings. I do not want any direct link between you and me. My official lines are not secure lines as they are periodically monitored to assess our level of customer care in line with our Total Quality Management Policy. Please observe this instruction religiously, after which I shall provide you with more details on this operation.

Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.

Kind Regards,
Mr. Vincent Cheng

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