419 scam: "Mr. Henry Lau"<userhenry@att.net> PLEASE READ AND REPLY ME BACK QUICKLY...

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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)
- "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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Henry Lau" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <henrysuelaupt77@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sun, 24 Jul 2011 22:24:51 +0300
Subject: PLEASE READ AND REPLY ME BACK QUICKLY...

Good Day,

My name is Mr. Henry Lau, i am the credit officer in Hang Seng Bank, Hong Kong. I have a business proposal
of $28,800,000, for you from my bank. There were no beneficiaries stated concerning these funds which
means no one would ever come forward to claim it. I want us to work together so as to have the sum
transferred out of my bank into your account.

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 70% for me, 30% for you.

Should you be interested Please treat this business with utmost confidentiality and get back to me through
my private emails with the following,

1,Full names,
2 Private phone number,
3,Current residential address,

Finally after that I shall provide you with more details of this operation.

Regards,
Mr. Henry Lau.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam