419 scam: "Mr. Ken Kante" <bty.tr@hotmail.com> URGENT RESPONSE

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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million us 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "observe utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
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.
- +27732716561 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- kennethkante297@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Ken Kante" <bty.tr@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <kennethkante297@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 02:04:37 -0700
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE

MR. KENNETH KANTE

ABSA BANK

SOUTH AFRICA.

I have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you.

On August
6th, 2010, an American Cocoa merchant/consultant, Mr.
Kelvin Thomas made a numbered time (fixed) deposit for twelve calendar months
valued at $25,000,000.00(Twenty Five Million US Dollars) at my branch. Upon
maturity, we sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no
reply. After a month, we sent a reminder. Eventually, we discovered from his
contract employer that Mr. Thomas had died. Further investigations conducted by
me indicated that he neither left a WILL nor a contactable next of kin or a
relation in his entire official document, including his bank deposit
information with us.

This amount is still available in my branch, and rolls over with interest every
year. Nobody has and will ever come forward to claim this money. According to
our Country’s Law, at the expiration of 5 (five) years, this money will be
reverted to the Ownership of the Government, which in turn will end up in the
hands of some very corrupt and unscrupulous Government Officials. Consequently,
my proposal is that, I will like you to stand in as his next of kin, so that
this old man’s fruit of labour does not get into the hands of uncaring
Government Officials. There are legions of less privileged people all over the
world for whom a meal is like paradise. I feel that other than allowing this
money to disappear, it will be more useful and beneficial to give it out to
charitable Organizations. I need your assistance to stand in as his next of kin
and claim this money.

The process is simple. According to my enquiries, all that is required to claim
this money is a letter of ADMINISTRATION
from the probate registry of the Johannesburg High Court. An attorney will
apply with your name as his next of kin. A letter of administration will be
issued within Fife
(5) working days. This letter will enable the attorney apply to claim this
money on your behalf, which would then be transferred to you into a foreign
account which you will provide.

I wish to point
out that I want 20% of this money to be shared among the charity Organizations,
while the remaining 80% is shared equally between us.

This proposition is entirely risk free. A good attorney would provide expert
services while I will use my position in the bank to guarantee the successful
execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please contact me via my
email address; kennethkante297@yahoo.com.

Upon your
response, I shall then provide you with more details of this transaction.
Please observe utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that this transaction
would be profitable for both of us. I will also require your assistance towards
investing my share in your Country.

I look forward to your anticipated cooperation.

Sincerely yours,

Kenneth Kante.

+27-73-271-6561

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam