419 scam: Mr.Simon Adams <admin16@asi972.onmicrosoft.com> From: Mr. Simon Adams

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united states 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)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- simonadamsonline@webmail.co.za (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Mr.Simon Adams <admin16@asi972.onmicrosoft.com>
Reply-To: <simonadamsonline@webmail.co.za>
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2016 09:43:53 +0100
Subject: From: Mr. Simon Adams

DATE: 3rd Feb, 2016

From: Mr. Simon Adams
Tel: 27-60 419 9301
Email: simonadamsonline@webmail.co.za

Dear friend,

With due respect, trust and humility, I write this letter to you irrespective
of the fact that you do not previously know me. My name is Mr. Simon Adams, I
am an Accountant and presently working with one of the prime banks in South
Africa for over 18 years now.

I have carried out research into a dormant account of a deceased client at the financial institute where I presently audit its accounts here in South Africa, of which with our records the client has no heirs. The account has a
significant amount of money in it. An account is judged to be dormant if there has been no activity in it or no contact with the client for 15 years.

Normally, account holders lose contact due to death without leaving a will and there's no known heir to inherit. The treasury department receives the
unclaimed money unless a previously unknown distant relative puts a claim on
it; which is usually within a limited time frame.

The South Africa Treasury Department receives over Five billion Rand every
year from unclaimed estates; forgotten funds; abandoned shares and dormant
accounts, some of it could be ours if we can work together as I can provide
all relevant documents and information. I could present you as the next of kin to deceased, as laid out in section 46 of the Administration of Estates Act of 1925 (with subsequent amendments) if you agree to work with me.

I will need to enter into an agreement with you, which will cover the
disbursement aspect of funds. Furthermore, you will have to sign a consent
form that gives the lawyer power of attorney to represent you at the probate
office (for the Procurement of the Grant of Probate). The amount in question
currently stands at US$26,000,000.00 (Twenty-Six Million United States Dollars only). At the closure of this transaction, 30% of the total funds will be yours, 60% for me and 10% will be set aside for expenses that might be incurred during the course of the transaction. So, if you would like to team up with me discreetly to secure these funds for ourselves, please contact me via my private email address:simonadamsonline@webmail.co.za and also call me on telephone: 27-60 419 9301.

I await your careful considered answer, as this is once in a life time
opportunity.

Regards,

Mr. Simon Adams

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam