419 scam: "Charles Samek Esq." <barrnjoku@yahoo.com.hk> Re: I NEED YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "% will be for you" (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)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- charleslawfirm2000@terra.com (Terra; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Charles Samek Esq." <barrnjoku@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2011 20:00:31 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Re: I NEED YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE

Hello Dear,

Wishing you a prosperous new year. I believe you are a highly respected personality, considering the fact that I sourced your profile from a human
resource profile database from your country. Though, I do not know to what extent you are familiar with events. Well, I am Barr Charles Samek Esq, a Solicitor and advocate to the British Crown Court United Kingdom and also the Personal Attorney to late Mr. Jim Bernard. On the 21st of April 2003, his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident and unfortunately, they all lost their lives in the event of the accident.

Since then I have made several inquiries to the foreign Embassy to locate any of my client's relatives abroad but this has proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet to locate any member of his family but to no avail, hence, I contacted you to assist in repatriating the money left behind by my client in a Bank, where the deceased deposited the sum of US$7.5 Million (Seven Million Five Hundred United States Dollars only) knows me as his attorney and has ask me to present some one to claim the amount left by my late client or they will have the deposit confiscated.

Consequently, this Bank issued me a notice to provide the Next of Kin to claim the funds USD $7.5 Million (Seven Million Five Hundred United States
Dollars ) in their custody within the next ten official working days. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years now, I
seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased to claim the fund so that the Bank will transfer the said funds to your account in your country. Upon receipt of the funds by you, I would then come over to your country to meet with you for the sharing of the proceed and then you and I will share the money in this order: 50% will be for me and my staff, 40% will be for you while the remaining funds 10% should be tax for the British government . I have all the necessary legal documents that can back our claim we may make with the Bank.

All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us seeing this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.Reply to my alternative e-mail address : charleslawfirm2000@terra.com

Best regards.
Charles Samek Esq
Reply to charleslawfirm2000@terra.com

Anti-fraud resources:

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