419 scam: "Gerhad Associate" <enquiry@monkeytree.com.hk> Did you receive my previous message?

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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:
- "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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)
- "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)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- gehard80@163.com (163; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Gerhad Associate" <enquiry@monkeytree.com.hk>
Reply-To: gehard80@163.com
Date: Sat, 06 Apr 2019 21:00:38 +0200
Subject: Did you receive my previous message?

Good Day,

My name is Gerhard, a Lawyer practicing in Germany. I am offering you a lucrative business to act as next of kin to my client who died intestate and also solicit a profitable partnership on investment for 5 Years in your Country.

My late client made a fixed deposit of funds valued at USD$14M (Fourteen Million Dollars) with a Bank here in Europe and unfortunately lost his life in Germanwings plane crash on 24th of March 2015 as you can read on the following news: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32063587

He left no clear beneficiary as Next of Kin except some vital documents related to the deposit that is still in my possession as his personal attorney.

Recently, the governing body of the bank contacted me on this matter, requesting that I should notify his next of kin to claim the funds and I am yet to provide any. I know my client had no living relative but I went ahead and made several inquiries to locate any of his extended relatives and this has proved unsuccessful.

Therefore, under a clear and legitimate agreement with you, I seek your consent to present you to the bank as the next of kin to claim this funds so that it will not be confiscated by the bank and this will be executed within the legal framework to make it 100% risk free.

The said fund will be transferred to you via the same bank and 35% of the fund is intended to be invested through your agency in the purchase of facility and assets, for business purposes in your Country. You will be entitled to 50% of the total fund for your role after claim.

There is no risk involved, all I required is your sincerity, co-operation and utmost good faith to enable us achieve this goal successfully and I guarantee this will be executed under a legal process that will protect you and I. We can both use this money to better the lives of our family rather than been confiscated by the Bank. Great opportunities like this never come twice. Be rest assured that in approximately 2 weeks, we should be done with this project if we dedicate our time to it.

The process is very simple as I have already put all the necessary legal documents to support our claim in place.

Kindly send me your information below to enable us discuss in details

(1) Full Names:
(2) Mobile Number:
(3) Occupation/Job:
(4) Age:
(5) Fax:

Please do not forget a project of this magnitude requires utmost confidentiality and sincerity. Reply through my private e-mail (gehard80@163.com)

I look forward to your response soon.

Regards,

Gerhard

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