419 scam: "Chuan Hou"<movementdelay@gmail.com> URGENT REPLY

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "with absolute secrecy" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Chuan Hou" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <chan.ucb@live.com>
Date: Thu, 6 Feb 2014 17:17:16 +0700
Subject: URGENT REPLY

Attn Dear Friend,

I apologize if the contents here are contrary to your moral ethics, but please treat with absolute secrecy and personal.

With due regards, my name is Mr. Chuan Hou a Banker with Union Commercial Bank of Cambodia office here in Phnom Penh city.

There is an Account opened in my bank in 1998 by a long-time client of our bank, a Brunei National He was a CEO/ P.Y OILTOOLS Sendirian Berhad Company owner. An oil merchant, before he passed away on August 16th 2013 his account is already dormant.

I am aware of every details of his bank account from 13th July 1998 till date, and when the last deposit was made before his death because i am his account officer

The amount in this account is currently Nine Hindered and Ninety Million Six hundred and Twenty five thousand Three hundred and seventy United states Dollars (U$990,625,370.00) I contacted you as a Foreigner to transact this deal with me as your duty is to stand the decease Next of Kin after approval you will open account with us so that the decease fund will credit into your account for onward transfer to your nominated account

Kindly understand there is no risk involve as I am the decease account officer we shall conclude this deal without any problem or trace after conclusion of the transaction.

I will be waiting your urgent reply.

Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Chuan

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam