419 scam: Dr Martin Hilk <office----massagi7@att.net> Dear Friend,

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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)
- "million 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)
- "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)
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.
- +22997831959 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Dr Martin Hilk <office----massagi7@att.net>
Reply-To: martinhilk@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2011 07:57:13 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Dear Friend,

Dear Friend,

This letter must come to you as a big surprise, please accept my apology for sending you unsolicited mail and please kindly delete this message from your mail box if you are not interested.

My name is Dr.Martin Hilk, I am a Benin Republic citizen and a Banker with a reputable bank here ,CONTINATAL BANK. I occupy the position of Audit and Accountant manager, it is with good spirit of heart I opened up this great opportunity to you hoping that you will not betray this trust. A deceased client of mine died as the result of a heart-related condition on March 12th 2005. His heart condition was due to the death of all the members of his family in the tsunami disaster on the 26th December2004 in Sumatra Indonesia . For more information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake

My late Client has a deposit of Eighteen Million Seven Hundred Thousand United State dollars (US$18.7Million Dollars) left behind here in our bank, I contacted you so I can present you as my late client next of kin, so the money can be transferred to your account and we will share it together at equal share, 40% for you and 50% for me the other 10% for the upfront espenses. After that, I shall immediately come over to your country for investment with my own share of the money.

I will like to inform you that I am the only person aware of this funds after my investigation because my bank has been expecting his next of kin to come up for the claim of this fund but all in vain based on the fact that they all died in the tsunami disaster on the 26th December2004 in Sumatra Indonesia. This is the main reason why I want to make use of this opportunity because I donâ€™t want my bank to transfer the money into the bank treasury as unclaimed fund.

Please reply immediately with your information including your full names, full address and telephone number for easy communication if you are interested.

I await your prompt response immediately,

Best Regards,
Dr.Martin Hilk.
Accountant manager
CONTINATAL BANK Benin (bbj)
+229-978 31 959.

Anti-fraud resources:

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