419 scam: "Mr.Khairul Mokhtar" <shimwong@rogers.com> I NEED YOUR 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)
- "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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
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.
- mr.khairul_l@yahoo.co.th (Yahoo, Thailand; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Khairul Mokhtar" <shimwong@rogers.com>
Reply-To: "Mr.Khairul Mokhtar" <mr.khairul_1@yahoo.co.th>
Date: Sun, 28 Mar 2010 00:01:01 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: I NEED YOUR URGENT REPLY

My
Dear Friend,
Compliments of the day and my best wishes to you, I apologize if the contents
here under are contrary to your moral ethics, but please treat with absolute
secrecy and personal. My name is Mr.Khairul Mokhtar, a Malaysian and the
Manager of bill and exchange at the foreign remittance department in Bank Of
Ayudhya PLC Thailand.
I came to know you in my private search for a reliable and reputable foreigner
to handle this confidential deal, we have a deceased customer of our, whose
funds has not be claimed. We lost this customer and his family in the Tsunami
disaster on the 26th December 2004 in Sumatra Indonesia.

Below is the link to view the full story.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake

His account of US$7Million with our bank has been unclaimed due to
unavailability of next of kin/relatives to claim his funds. In accordance with
the escheat laws of government with banks, the board of directors of the bank
met forth night ago and resolved to turn the funds of the deceased over to
Government having waited for too long without the deceased relatives/next of
kin surfacing and if this is done, invariably, the funds will end up to become
Government funds and it is as a result of this that am moved to contact you, it
will be easy for me to get you as the next of kin and beneficiary to this funds
as a foreigner.

In view of this, am seeking your honest cooperation and understanding to stand
as the deceased next of kin to enable us claim the inheritance before the
period given by the bank elapse. I agree that 45% of the US$7Million will be
for you as a foreign partner, in respect to the provision of a foreign account,
45% will be for me, 5% for tax expenses in your country as your government may
require and remaining 5% will be for charity organization and less privileged
people.

If you are interested and in agreement with me, get back to me quickly and we
will proceed without you coming to the bank, and be rest assured that it is
100% risk free project and you are protected from any breach of law and as well
these funds will be shared accordingly once the fund move into your account in
your country or in your account outside your country.

Upon receipt of your prompt response; I will attach my documents to you to
identify myself to you. Please reply immediately with your telephone and fax
number for easy communication and oral discussion.

I look forward to your earliest response by email for more details:
(mr.khairul_l@yahoo.co.th)
Best Regards,
Mr.Khairul Mokhtar.

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