419 scam: "Barr. Erwin Kunia" <erwinkuniaesq@yahoo.pt> Barr. Erwin Kunia esq

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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)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "barr." (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: "Barr. Erwin Kunia" <erwinkuniaesq@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: "Barr. Erwin Kunia" <erwinkuniaesq@gmx.com>
Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 03:10:37 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Barr. Erwin Kunia esq

Dear friend,

A very good day to you, I amÂ Barrister Erwin Kunia, the Personal Attorney to late Mr. John Thomas, a foreign national and a Construction Engineer. I have the pleasure to contact you on a very important subject matter.

My late client died along with his entire family while on holiday in Asia Earth Quake Disaster (Phuket Island in Thailand on December 2004. (TSUNAMI DISASTER) You can view this link to understand me moreÂ http://faculty.washington.edu/moberle/Tsunami/Tsunami.htmÂ Â He left the sum of USD$10.5M with a bank and ever since his death, the bank has asked me to provide his next of kin. I have made series of efforts to contact any of his relatives or next of kin all to no avail and that is why i have the pleasure to contact you so that i can present you to the bank to stand as his bonafide next of kin and claim out this money which he left behind.

On hearing from you, I shall give you comprehensive details of what to do as regards to this. Please try and keep this very confidential even if you do not accept this proposal.

Best regards and God bless,
Barr. Erwin Kunia esq

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam