419 scam: "Komathi"<redneckperson20@peoplepc.com> ATTENTION PLEASE!!

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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:
- "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)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Komathi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <briankomathi89673@rocketmail.com>
Date: Thu, 3 May 2012 23:14:16 +0800
Subject: ATTENTION PLEASE!!

Attention

I hope this message gets to you in perfect health, my names are Barr.Brian Komathi; I work with Brian Komathi & Partners, a legal firm base in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
A Foreign Diamond consultant/contractor with the Sierra Leonean National Diamond Corporation Mr Charles Afanasyeva, who here in after shall be referred to as my client, died in Afriqiyah Flight Crashes In Tripoli, Libya http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8676758.stm http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2010/05/2010512731621627.html with his wife and kids on 12 May 2010 and upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL and all attempts to trace his next of kin were fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that he did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork before me.

I have contacted you to assist in distributing the money left behind by my client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this deposit valued at $7.2million dollars is lodged.
This bank has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or the account will be confiscated. My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the next-of-kin and beneficiary of my late client, since you have the same last name with him, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. Then we can share the amount on a mutually agreed-upon percentage.
All legal documents to back up your claim as my client's next of kin will be secured gradually and forwarded to you. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

If this business proposition offends your moral values, do accept my apology. Please contact me at once to indicate your interest.

Regards,
Barr.Brian Komathi,
Principal Attorney.

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