419 scam: "John Ekene Esq." <jwlker11@excite.com> Urgent reply needed

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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 united states 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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
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.
- johnekene519@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "John Ekene Esq." <jwlker11@excite.com>
Reply-To: uk.wu@cnegal.com
Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2013 20:35:21 +0600
Subject: Urgent reply needed

Dear Friend,

I am Barrister John Ekene of EKENE CHAMBERS & CO. This mail is written
and intended to solicit your assistance to be presented as NEXT OF KIN
to my Late Client. My Deceased Client Stephen Reinhart,(Lakewood, Ohio)
He made a fixed Deposit of Funds valued at USD 10M (Ten Million United
States Dollars Only)with a Bank here in Nigerian.

Unfortunately lost his life abroad Egypt Air Flight 990, which crashed
into the Atlantic Ocean on October
31st,1999(news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/502503.stm) and left no
clear beneficiary as Next of Kin except some vital documents related to
the Deposit which is still with me. All efforts by me to trace his Next
of Kin proved abortive because he did not make any will prior to his
death.

The Governing Body of the BANK has contacted me on this matter and I am
yet to provide the Next of Kin to lay claims to the Funds. Under a clear
and legitimate agreement with you, I shall seek your consent to be
presented as the next of Kin so that my late client's fund will not be
confiscated by the BANK or to be misused by corrupt government
officials. I propose a sharing formula of 60% for me, 40% for you and if
you will agree to stand as the next of kin and have the funds deposited
into any account that you will provide.

Please make available to me the following information so that we can
proceed.
Your Full Names.......................
Your Private telephone:...............
Your Address..........................
Your Occupation.......................
Your Age..............................
Please send your response to my private mail address: johnekene519@yahoo.com

Thank you very much for your anticipated co-operation.
Yours faithfully,
John Ekene Esq.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam