419 scam: "Mr. Evans Merritt" <evans.merritt@yahoo.dk> QUESTION: Can I Completely Trust You With These Funds?

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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:
- "from the desk of" (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)
- ",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)
- "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)
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.
- +447045736280 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- evans_merritt@yahoo.dk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Evans Merritt" <evans.merritt@yahoo.dk>
Reply-To: evans_merritt@yahoo.dk
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 13:00:21 -0400
Subject: QUESTION: Can I Completely Trust You With These Funds?

>From The Desk Of: Mr. Evans Merritt,
International Remittance & Audit Department,
Tel:+4470-4573-6280
Email:(evans_merritt@yahoo.dk)
Natwest Bank Plc, London United Kingdom.

Dear Prospective Beneficiary/Partner,

QUESTION: Can I Completely Trust You With These Funds?

I am Mr. Evans Merritt, an employee of NATIONAL WESTMINISTER BANK PLC, here in London, UK. I have an urgent and a very confidential business proposition for you. In January 2001, late Mr. Paul Louis Halley made a numbered-time (fixed deposit) for twelve calendar months valued at £10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Great British Pounds) in a domiciliary account in my branch.

Late Mr. Paul Louis Halley 69yrs, was the seventh richest man in France,and his wife and Mr. Hans Frans Walter Brams, 46yrs, a Belgian pilot died on 6 December, 2003 near Oxford's airport plane crash of Socata TBM 700 aircraft crash.

PLEASE FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE CRASH VIEW THE WEBSITE BELOW:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/oxfordshire/4537663.stm

After several unsuccessful attempts, I have decided to go over the Internet, to try and see if you could be of assistance to me. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they are confiscated or declare unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged.

The deceased had an account valued at about (£10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Great British Pounds) in Natwest Bank Plc. My bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin, or have the account confiscated within the next fifteen official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over six years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased and your last name is immaterial since this can be worked out so that the proceeds of this account valued at (£10,000,000.00) can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money in the ratio of 2:3.

Note that it does not matter whether you are biologically related to the deceased or not as a next of kin may be a parent, sister, brother, close relative, associate, friend or even a well-wisher.

All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement. You can contact me through this private e-mail address (evans_merritt@yahoo.dk) and enclose your private telephone number for easy communication.

Best Regards,

Mr. Evans Merritt.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam