419 scam: BARRISTER KONRAD <hope_is_a_great_thing@yahoo.co.jp> Utmost 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:

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:
- "transferred into your bank account" (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)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: BARRISTER KONRAD <hope_is_a_great_thing@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: BARRISTER KONRAD <kskeris@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 01:10:06 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Utmost Urgent

Hello,

I am Mr. Konrad Skeris, a solicitor at law, and personal attorney to late Engr .Howard. S. K, a national of your country, who use to Work as a contractor here in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Here in after Shall referred to as my client. On the 16th of March 2005, my client, and their only daughter were involved in a fatal accident along Bassam express road, all occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.

Since then I have made several inquiries here to locate any of my client's extended relation, this has also proved unsuccessful. After several unsuccessful attempts, i decided to search through the internet which motivated me to contact you, to locate any family member of my late client hence i contacted you.

I am contacting you to assist in repartrating the fund valued at $ 20.5 million left behind by my late client before It gets confisicated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge fund is deposited. The said bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin to my deceased customer or have his account confisicated within the next twenty one days. Since i have been unsuccesful in locating the relative for over 9years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to my late client since two of you came from the same country so that the proceed of this account can be paid to you.

Therefore, upon receipt of your positive response, i shall furnish you with more details and how we can proceed to get the funds released and transferred into your bank account. All I require from you is your honest co-operation to enable us see this through.

I await for your positive response.

Regards

Respectfully yours.
Mr. Konrad Skeris
Principal Attorney.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam