419 scam: Family Message <elens_2001@yahoo.com> Dear My Friend ,

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +22966561534 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Family Message <elens_2001@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: familymessage@ymail.com
Date: Tue, 7 Sep 2010 18:50:18 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Dear My Friend ,

Dear My Friend ,

I am sending this email to you personally as a result of the very urgent mandate I received from the Bank and my sincere belief that you can handle this mutual business transaction with me.

I am Frank Santos, from REP OF BENIN, a solicitor at law, personal attorney to late Engr. Raymond A. Kiefer, a national Of Germany, who used to work with Shell Development Company in COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN, on the 10th of March, 2006 It was reported to me, that my client, while returning from Vacation with his family from Accra Ghana, died in an AUTO CAR ACCIDENT with his wife and two sons died living there only daughter of 8 year in a bad condition which has keep this little girl in the hospital suffering from Brain failure has the Doctor said this is all the result from the Car Accident

Late Engr Raymond A. Kiefer, funds sum of US$10.5M (Ten million Five hundred thousand united state dollars) has been dormant in his account with an Apex Bank Benin Republic, without any claim since his untimely death. The Apex Bank management has given me a mandate as his attorney to provide his Next of kin of his deposited funds for the intended transfer of his fund or the account will be revoked otherwise confiscated as unserviceable Fund after the next 15 working days. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating any of his relatives for a long time now irrespective of several attempts made through the Internet and their high Commission to locate his relatives but all to no avail.

Hence I seek for your humble consent to present you as the Next of Kin to the deceased since the little Girl is still in bad condition as the hospital, I respect my judgment that you are to hand this project, invest and manage the Fund properly in your country or any over sea countries. And then you will see that the little girl will be in good condition because I believe you will have a good facilities there in your Country

I advise you to contact me back immediately or call me on my private line +229 66 56 15 34 to confirm to me your acceptance to handle this project with me as an active partner.

Looking forward for your urgent response as to enable me forward more vital information and commence on the legal paper work in your name for a general approval as the new legal registered next of kin to my late client in the position of the formal.

Best Regards
Frank Santos,
Tel: +229 66 56 15 34

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam