419 scam: "Adiyia"<st.vicky@mcom.com> UPDATE ME

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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:
- "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)
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Adiyia" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lawfirmexecutive@executivemail.co.za>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:06:48 -0000
Subject: UPDATE ME

Dear Friend,

Greetings, it impresses me a lot to email you, do accept my apologies if my mail does not meet your personal ethics, I love to introduce myself and aim of written you, my name is Barrister Fred Y.Adiyia a solicitor at law, personal attorney to late Dr. Juan Carlos Paz López, a citizen of your country, owner of a company herein Ghana west Africa.

The finance house where he had an account valid of $25.7Million United States dollars has issued me a notice to provide his or her next of kin before this first quarter of the year 2010 will end or Ghana government will confiscate the funds.

I will be happy to have you as his next of kin so that the Bank will release the funds to you and we shear the money, 40% for you while 60% for me.

Fortunately, both of you may have the same last name; let me know if you will assist me.

I wait your reply,

Thanks
Yours faithfully
FRED Y.ADIYIA {ESQ.}
AGYEMAN, AGYEMAN & ADIYIA CHAMBERS
+233 277441684

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam