419 scam: David Menas <menas@menas.com> Inheritance Notification

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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.

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "please indicate your interest" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: David Menas <menas@menas.com>
Reply-To: menas_d@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2015 18:28:02 -0300 (BRT)
Subject: Inheritance Notification

Dear Friend,

Good day to you and I hope my email meets you in good health? My name is D. Menas the Manger of a branch of the Bank of Ireland in England. I have have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. In March 2009, an American businessman made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for Twenty-Four calendar months, valued at US$10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Dollars)in cash in my security firm.

Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After some months, a reminder was sent and still there being no response, an investigation was launched where we discovered from his contract employers, the client had since passed away.

On further investigation, I also discovered that he died without naming a next of kin for us to contact and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. The said customer of the bank did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Deposit paperwork in the firm. No one has ever come forward to claim it. This sum of US$10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Dollars) is still sitting in the bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year.

According to the UK financial regulatory laws, at the expiration of 5 (five) years after the due date, any money left unclaimed will revert to the ownership of Government if nobody applies to claim the funds. This money will only end up in in the government coffers amonst billions of other unclaimed bank accounts and in a corrupt politicians pocket at the end of it all. Claiming housing allowance while staying in their own homes or claiming Â£300 daily while the food banks are increasing.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you to stand in as the next of kin, the sole beneficiary/executor to the estate of the deceased. In doing this I can have the money from the deceaseds account transferred to you as your rightful inheritance.

This deal is 100% risk free success is guaranteed if you are willing to follow my instructions. As an insider and one with authority I can act to ensure that we are successful. This is a once in life time opportunity for us. I will need you to observe utmost confidentiality in this as this will guaranty success. If you are interested please indicate your interest in your reply and I will provide you further modalaities for a successful completion.

With regards,

David

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