419 scam: "MR.CHEN GUANGYUAN" <info@bank.com.hk> IN GOOD FAITH

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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:
- "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "with your full names" (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)
- "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)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "chen_guan27@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "chen_guan27@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "MR.CHEN GUANGYUAN" <info@bank.com.hk>
Reply-To: chen_guan27@live.com
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:15:53 +0800
Subject: IN GOOD FAITH

FROM: MR.CHEN GUANGYUAN
(chen_guan27@live.com)

Let me start by introducing myself. I am Mr. Chen Guangyuan, Foreign
Operations Manager of the Bank of China (Hong kong). I have an obscured
business suggestion for you.

Before the U.S and Iraqi war our client Ghazi Musa Hassan who was with the
Iraqi forces and also a businessman made a numbered fixed deposit for 12
calendar months, with a value of Seventeen Million Three Hundred Thousand
United State Dollars only into an account with my branch. Upon maturity
several notice was sent to him, even during the war . Again after the war
another notification was sent and still no response came from him. We later
found out that the Ghazi Musa Hassan and his family had been killed during
the war in bomb blast that hit their home. After further investigation it was
also discovered that Ghazi Musa Hassan 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. So, Seventeen Million Three Hundred Thousand
United State Dollars (US$17,300,000.00) is still lying in my bank and no one
will ever come forward to claim it. What bothers me most is that according to
the laws of my country at the expiration 7years the funds will revert to the
ownership of the Hong Kong Government if nobody applies to claim the funds.
Against this backdrop, my suggestion to you is that I will like you as a
foreigner to stand as the next of kin to Ghazi Musa Hassan so that you will
be able to receive his funds.

WHAT IS TO BE DONE:

I want you to know that I have had everything planned out so that we shall
come out successful. I will contact my attorney to prepare the necessary
document that will back you up as the next of kin to Ghazi Musa Hassan, all
that is required from you at this stage is for you to provide me with your
Full Names and Address so that the attorney can commence his job. After you
have been made the next of kin, the attorney will also file in for claims on
your behalf and secure the necessary approval and letter of probate in your
favor for the move of the funds to an account that will be provided by you.
There is no risk involved at all in the matter as we are going to 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 fund have been transferred to your nominated bank account we
shall share in the ratio of 60% for me, 40% for you.

Should you be interested please send me your fullnames and current
residential address and I will prefer you to reach me on this email
address(chen_guan27@live.com) which is my private email address and finally
after that i shall provide you with more details of this operation.

Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.

Kind Regards,
Mr. Chen Guangyuan.

Anti-fraud resources:

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