419 scam: David Petraeus <davidpetraeus2001@gmail.com> Next Of Kin Needed urgent

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "barrister" (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 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.
- +2348068117683 (Nigeria, 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.
- barristerkenmoses1@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: David Petraeus <davidpetraeus2001@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Sep 2014 12:46:19 -0700
Subject: Next Of Kin Needed urgent

Before I proceed, I must first apologize for this unsolicited letter to
you. I am aware that this is certainly not a
conventional way of approach to establish a relationship of trust, but I do
have limited choice.

My name is Barrister Ken Moses from Nigeria .Actually, I got your contact
information from your country's public
records while searching for a last name similar to my Late client Engr,Mark
Jimmy , who is a Contractor here in Nigeria and he died in plane crash
(AF4590)
on his way to America after he left London to Germany for business.All
occupants of the plane unfortunately lost their lives.

Before his death, on my advice as his lawyer he deposited the sum of $10.5M
(TEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS) With a bank in Nigeris
under a very strong insurance bond.

The bank has mandated me to present any family heir/inheritor for claims
before the account gets confiscated or reverts to
the government treasury, as unclaimed funds. That is the reason I decided
to search for any of my late client's relative which has been impossible
for me to accomplish as he did not declare any other person, address,
partner or relatives in the official paper works of his deposit.Mr,Mark
Engr, was my private client.

I have to let you know that absolute confidentiality is required in this
transaction and involvement of a third party is not
acceptable. Besides I am doing this on my own personal capacity and do not
wish to bring my office into it.

Against this backdrop, my suggestion to you is that I will like you as a
foreigner to stand as the next of kin to my late
client, since you both share the same last name so that the money will be
released to you. With my position as his lawyer, I
will now appoint and recognize you as the heir.

I will obtain every relevant document from the probate to make your claim
legal. Note that this process is not risky in any
manner and it is completely legal but might not be justified morally. Once
the fund is released to you, I am proposing 40% of
the total sum to you for your involvement, I would retain 60% for myself.
Note that when the whole documents are ready, it would be your
responsibility to approach the bank and make application for the release
and transfer of the said funds.

Best Regards
Barrister Ken Moses
+234 80 68117683
barristerkenmoses1@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam