419 scam: "Mr. Chen Ho"<chenho04@zing.vn> From Mr. Chen Ho

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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)
- "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)
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.
- chenho_02@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Chen Ho" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <chenho05@zing.vn>
Date: Sun, 3 Jul 2011 13:54:56 +0100
Subject: From Mr. Chen Ho

FROM: MR. CHEN HO
Bank of China (Hong Kong)
Eastern Commercial Centre,
393-407 Hennessy Road,
Wan Chai,
Hong Kong.

Dear Friend,

Thank you for your response and I appreciate your interest in this transaction. Before we go fully into this
business let me start by introducing myself to you fully. I am Mr. Chen Ho, 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 Ali Jassim 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 notices 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 Ali Jassim and his family had been killed during the war in bomb blast
that hit their home.

After further investigation it was also discovered that Ali Jassim 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 9
years 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 Ali Jassim 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 Ali
Jassim, 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 funds 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 full names and current residential address and I will prefer
you reach me on this email address (chenho_02@yahoo.com.hk) 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 Ho.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam