419 scam: Jonathan Mat Hers <azbakry3@live.com> Greetings to you and Trust you are doing Good.

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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.

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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:
- "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. )
- "might come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "huge deposit" (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)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Jonathan Mat Hers <azbakry3@live.com>
Reply-To: jonathanmathers1@mail.com
Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2012 13:09:39 +0800
Subject: Greetings to you and Trust you are doing Good.

Attn: Greetings to you, Greetings to you and your family! This letter might come to you as a surprise and the temptation to ignore it as not serious could come into your mind; but please consider it a divine wish and accept it with a deep sense of humility. I am Jonathan Mat Hers a solicitor at law also personal attorney to a native of your country who used to work with American Family Insurance Group in South East Asian. Herein shall be referred to as my client. On the 21st of April 2006, my client died of mysterious illness. Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of his extended relatives, this has proved unsuccessful. After several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family. Hence I contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and properties left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposit were lodged, particularly the Financial institution where the deceased had a deposit valued at about US$16.5 Million, has issued me a notice to provide the next-of-kin or have the account confiscated within 6 weeks. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 3 years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$16.5 Million can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money, 55% to me and 40% to you while 5% will be set aside for expenses, I would obtain all necessary legal documents that can be used to backup any claim we may make. All I require is your honest cooperation 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. Please get in touch with me immediately as I do not have much time in my disposal. You can reach me via e-mail or phone: Best Regards. Barr.Jonathan Mat Hers.(ESQ).

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam