419 scam: "Barrister Mikhael L. Jirat"<postmaster@chrt.org.hk> Invitation To Act As 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:

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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "please indicate your readiness" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Barrister Mikhael L. Jirat" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mikhaelgeha@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2015 14:19:20 -0500
Subject: Invitation To Act As Next-of-Kin

>From The Desk Of Barrister Mikhael L.Jirat(Esq)
Mazing Grace Plaza Lagos, Nigeria.

Greetings,

Compliments of the season, I am Barrister Mikhael L.Jirat(Esq), a legal practitioner, I am the personal attorney to Mrs. Caroline Michael, a National of the United States, who used to work with Chevron Oil Company Nigeria limited. On the 26th of August 2011, my client husband and their three children were involved in UN building blast By Boko Haram here in Abuja Nigeria, My client and her family unfortunately lost there lives.

PLEASE VIEW THESE WEBSITES BELOW TO CONFIRM

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-14677957
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/08/26/nigeria.un/

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, I decided and do some research in the Internet, to locate any member of her family. That is why I contacted you, and the reason why I contacted you is to assist me in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where these huge deposits were lodged where my client deposited US$9.5 MILLION DOLLARS.

The Bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the Account confiscated within the next 30 official working days. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 3 Years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased, so that the proceeds of this account va

lued at US$9.5 MILLION DOLLARS can be transferred to your account there in your country, then you and me can share the money. I have all necessary legal documents that will back up the claim we may make.

All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us seeing this deal through. Guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please indicate your readiness to assist me, so that all the information’s about these funds will be passed to you immediately.

You should send to me your full names, your private telephone numbers, scanned copy of your I.D fax number date of birth employment status, for easy communications. And also assure me of your trust and remember that the trust in business is confidentiality. So let it be only between me and you. If you give me your full cooperation and this transaction is properly executed, I am prepared to give you 40% of the total sum for your kind assistance.50% will be for me and 10% percent will be for any expenses we may incure along in this transaction.

Thank you very much for your understanding.

Best Regards,
Barrister Mikhael L.Jirat(Esq)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam