419 scam: "Benatt Zinn" <info@hp.com> Confidential

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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:
- "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "chambers" (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 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.
- benattszinn@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Benatt Zinn" <info@hp.com>
Reply-To: benattszinn@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 02 Mar 2016 04:09:58 +0200
Subject: Confidential

BENATT ZINN CHAMBERS

39-41 Parker Street

London

WC2B 5PQ

Email: benattszinn@gmail.com

Ref: 8U771 -1112-2010

Attn: Sir/ Madam

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 you will realize the need for my action. My name is Benatt Zinn of Benatt Zinn chambers, London, UK. Actually, I got your contact information from your country data directory (South Africa) on my recent visit to your country, while searching for a last name similar to my late client a South African; therapist at a Budapest center for children with motor disabilities. She died along with her son on the Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A330 crashed on landing at Tripoli airport after a flight from Johannesburg.

Before her death, she deposited the sum of £12.5M with a bank here in London, England. The bank has mandated me to present any family heir/inheritor for claim before the fund gets confiscated as an unclaimed fund. So I decided to search for any of my late client's relative which has been very difficult for me, as she did not declare any other person, address, partner or relatives in the official paper works of her deposit except her late son.

Against this backdrop, my suggestion to you is that I will like you as a South African to stand as the next of kin to late Dr. Rita, since you share the same last name. With my position as her lawyer, I will now place your name as the next of kin to my late client. I will prepare every relevant document that will assist your claims, and facilitate the release of the fund.

Note that this transaction is risk free. There is no atom of risk in connection to this business as I have worked out all modalities to complete the transaction successfully. Once the money is released to you, we shall share in the ratio of 50% for me, 50% for you as your benefit then we will map out 5% to upset any expenses made on the process of this transaction. Reply via my private Email: Please be kind to get back to me if you are not interested so that I can further my search for another partner.

Best Regards

Barrister Benatt Zinn
Benatt Zinn Chambers,
London, UK.
Email: benattszinn@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam