419 scam: "JOHN COLVIN" <john.colvin1@rocketmail.com> NEXT OF KIN

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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:
- "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. )
- "huge deposit" (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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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.
- johncolviin@rocketmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "JOHN COLVIN" <john.colvin1@rocketmail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: johncolviin@rocketmail.com
Date: Thu, 2 May 2013 18:59:44 +0700 (WIT)
Subject: NEXT OF KIN

Hello Dear,

I am Barrister John Colvin. a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney
to Mr. Martin . Hudson a national of USA. who used to work with
Shell-development Company in Nigeria.

Here in after shall be referred to as my client. On the 21st of April
2003, my client, his wife were involved in a car accident along sagamu
express road Lagos State Nigeria.

All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I
have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients
extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts to locate any member of his
family hence I contacted you.I am contacting you to assist in repatriating
the money and property left behind by my client before they get
confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposit
were lodged.

Particularly, the finance company where the deceased had an account valued
at about US$32,500,000.00 has issued me a notice to provide the next of
kin or have the account confiscated within the Next Ten Official Working
Days.Reply to:johncolviin@rocketmail.com

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over nearly
10years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the
deceased since you are a Foreigner, so that the proceeds of this account
valued at US$32,500,000.00 can be paid to you and then you and me can
share the money.I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to
back up any claim we may make.

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal
through.I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Please get in touch with me by my email and send to me your telephone and
fax numbers to enable us discuss further about this transaction.

Hope to hear from you in receipt of this mail.Reply
to:johncolviin@rocketmail.com

Thank you.
Best Regards,
Barrister John Colvin.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam