Got this e-mail today:

MR.JOSEPH POON
HANG SENG BANK LTD.
DES VOEUX RD,BRANCH,CENTRAL HONG KONG
HONG KONG.
Email:jos_ponhk1@yahoo.com.hk
Tel/Fax:+85230141326


I am Mr. Joseph Poon director of operations of the Hang Seng Bank Ltd. I
have an obscured business proposal for you. Before the U.S and Iraqi war our
client political party official and a business man Muhannad al-Hakim, made
a numbered fixed deposit for 18 calendar months, value at Forty Four million
Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars, in my branch. Upon maturity
several notices where sent to him, even during the war, which began in 2003.
Again, after the war another notification was sent and still no response
came from him. We later found out that Muhannad al-Hakim, his wife and only
daughter had been killed during the war in a gun fire.

http://www.iraqbodycount.net/names.htm

After further investigation it was also discovered that Muhannad al-Hakim
did not declare any next of kin in his official papers, including the paper
work of his bank deposit. 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, Forty Four
million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars is still lying in my
bank, and no one will know of it. What bothers me most is that according to
the laws of my country, at the expiration of 3 years and 6 months 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 Muhannad
al-Hakim so that you will be able to receive his funds.

WHAT IS TO BE DONE:

I want you to know that I have everything carefully planned. I have
contacted an attorney that will prepare the necessary documents that will
back you up as the next of kin to Muhannad al-Hakim. All that is required
from you at this stage is to provide me with your Full Names and Address so
that the attorney can commence his job. I will use my position to influence
the move of the funds. After you have been made the next of kin, the
attorney will file 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 this 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. Should you be interested please send me your full names, private
phone/fax and current residential address and finally after that I shall
provide you with more details of this operation. I prefer you to reach me
with the below.

Email:jos_ponhk1@yahoo.com.hk

Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.

Kind Regards,
Mr. Joseph Poon

I wonder if people ever fall for this kind of scam

 

I hope not. That's the kind of thing that is so dumb if anyone falls for it you've gotta lose faith in humanity as a whole.

 

Unfortunately all the time

 

You mean it's not real. I'm going to go get the Poon, right after I get the money from Nigeria.

 

I know someone who fell for it. They flew to Amsterdam, and actually met with the scammers.

Luckily he knew what was going on, and left. These scammers are sometimes friends of rich people, or rich people. I was told he was invited to his house, which was huge.

 

people fall for it all the time... they did this whole dateline or 20/20 expose on it. you'd be surprised at how retarded/gullible people can be.

 

What can they do with a name and address? I mean you can look that kind of stuff up in the people pages.

 

that info is just to probe for interest.

once that info is provided than the bank account#'s and drafts come into play.


my x thought she was gona get rich 2 years ago, cuz someone had died blah blah and she was gona get the inheritance and all they needed was her bank account info.

I told her not to do it and just leave it alone and as usual she wouldn't listen and sent a few emails back and forth and when he asked for some money she got suspicous and asked her best friend to look it over and than she finally told her that yah looks like a scam. would always annoy me she believed everything she said not matter what and no matter what i'd say she was like uhh ahh, stupid ass

 

These letters and now e-mails have been floating around for more than 15 years. We get at least 1 a month here, and yes they must work to some extent if they are still going around.