Next Of Kin Email Scam: How To Avoid Being A Victim

The “Next of Kin” email scam involves the scammer posing as a relative or associate of a deceased individual, claiming the victim is the next of kin and entitled to inherit a large sum of money, but requesting personal information and possibly a fee in order to claim the inheritance.

malicious email

What is the “Next Of Kin” email?

The “Next of Kin” email scam is a type of phishing scam that involves the scammer posing as a relative or close associate of a deceased individual who has left behind a large sum of money. The scammer claims that the victim is the next of kin to the deceased and is entitled to inherit the money, but needs to provide personal information and possibly pay a fee in order to claim the inheritance.

One version of this scam involves the scammer sending an email claiming to be a lawyer representing the deceased, who has named the victim as their next of kin and beneficiary of their estate. The scammer may provide details about the supposed deceased individual, such as their name and occupation, and may even include a fake death certificate to make the scam seem more believable. They may then request personal information from the victim, such as their name, address, and bank account information, and may ask for a fee to cover legal or administrative costs associated with transferring the inheritance.

Another version of this scam involves the scammer claiming to be a relative of the victim who has recently come into a large sum of money. The scammer may claim that they need the victim’s help to transfer the money out of their country and offer to share the inheritance with the victim in exchange for their assistance. However, in order to facilitate the transfer, the scammer may ask for personal information and may request that the victim send money to cover fees or taxes.

Here is what a typical “Next Of Kin” scam message looks like:

Subject: REF:-XVGNN82023
( I.M.F ) Head Office
Paris Office
64-66, Avenue d’lena
75116 Paris, France
Tel:+33757906502,+33757935732
REF:-XVGNN82023

I am Franks Jeffrey, a highly placed official of the International
Monetary Fund (IMF). It may interest you to know that reports have
reached our office by so many correspondences on the uneasy way which
people like you are treated by Various Banks and Courier Companies/
Diplomat across Europe to Africa and Asia /London Uk and we have
decided to put a stop to that and that is why I was appointed to
handle your transaction here in
U/K and U.S.A

All Governmental and Non-Governmental prostates, NGOs, Finance
Companies, Banks, Security Companies and Courier companies which have
been in contact with you of late have been instructed to back up from
your transaction and you have been advised NOT to respond to them
anymore since the IMF is now directly in charge of your payment.

The most annoying thing is that the bad officials won’t tell you the
truth that on no account will they ever release the fund to you,
instead they allow you spend money unnecessarily, I do not intend to
work here all the days of my life, I can release this fund to you if
you can certify me of my security.

I hope this is clear. Any action contrary to this instruction is at
your own risk. Respond to this e-mail on ( officice6@gmail.com) with
immediate effect and we shall give you further details on how your
fund
will be released.

1.Full Name:………
2.Address:……….
3.Nationality:……
4.Age:……..Date of Birth:………..
5.Occupation:…………
6.Phone :……………Mobile:
………….:……………. …
7.State of Origin:………………….Country:……………..
8. Copy of your identity Card

Yours sincerely,

Franks Jeffrey
Director, IMF Europe Office

Subject: COMPLIMENT OF THE SEASON

From The Desk Of Mr
Alassane Bala Sakande,
Manager Audit Account Dept,
Bank Of Africa Ouagadougou
Burkina-Faso.

Good Day.

I am Mr.
Alassane Bala Sakande Manager Audit/Accounting Department BANK OF AFRICA
U.B.A Ouagadougou Burkina-Faso, I would like to know if this proposal
will be worthwhile for your acceptance have a Foreign Customer,
Manfred Hoffman from Germany who was an Investor, Crude Oil Merchant
and Federal Government Contractor, he was a victim with Concord Air
Line, flight AF4590 killing 113 people crashed on 25 July 2000 near
Paris leaving a closing balance of eighteen Million five Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars ($18.500 000 ) in one of his Private US
dollar Account that was been managed by me as his Customer’s Account
Officer.

Base on my security report, these funds can be claimed without any
hitches as no one is aware of the funds and it’s closing balance
except me and the customer who is (Now Deceased) therefore, I can
present you as the Next of Kin and we will work out the modalities for
the claiming of the funds in accordance with the law.

Now, if you are interested and really sure of your trustworthy,
Accountability and confidentiality on this transaction without
disappointment, you can contact me using my private email address:
alassanebalasaknde98@gmail.com

Our sharing ratio will be 50% for me and 40% for you, While 10% will
be for the necessary expenses that might occur along the line.

I expect your reply
Sincerely
Mr
Alassane Bala Sakande.

It is important to be aware of the “Next of Kin” email scam and to be cautious of any unsolicited emails claiming that you are the next of kin to a deceased individual or that you are entitled to inherit a large sum of money. Do not provide personal information or send money in response to these emails, as they are likely scams designed to steal your money or identity. If you receive an email of this nature, it is best to delete it and to report it to the appropriate authorities.

Is the “Next Of Kin” email real?

No, the “Next Of Kin” email is no real. The “Next Of Kin” email is a scam that tries to trick you to provide personal information and sending money to facilitate the transfer of the donation. To make the email more credible, these scammers use fake invoice numbers, renewal dates, official logos, and promotional banners.

Here are signs that this email is a scam, even though it looks like it comes from a company you know — and even uses the company’s logo in the header:
  • A generic greeting is used in place of a name (eg. “customer,” “account holder,” or “dear”).
  • The sender’s email address is not associated with a legitimate domain name
  • The email invites you to click on a link to resolve an issue. Most reputable organizations will not ask users to disclose sensitive information (e.g. credit card numbers) by clicking on a link.
  • There is a time limit or uncharacteristic sense of urgency
  • Poor grammar, spelling, and sentence structure may hint that an email is not from a reputable source.
While real companies might communicate with you by email, legitimate companies won’t email or text message you with a link to login or update your account. Phishing emails can often have real consequences for people who give scammers their information, including identity theft.

What should I do now?

We recommend that you ignore the content of the “Next Of Kin” email and delete it from your Inbox.
If you have downloaded any attachments or clicked on any links from this email, or if you suspect that your computer might be infected with malware, you can follow the below steps to scan your device for malware with Malwarebytes and remove it for free.

Check if you’re device is infected with malware

The “Next Of Kin” phishing emails may contain malware within the attachments or links that appear in the body of the email. By interacting with the malware — for example, opening or downloading an attachment that contains a malicious payload — the user may unknowingly infect their device or network, enabling attackers to gain access to protected applications and data.

To check your computer or phone for Trojans, browser hijackers, or other malware and remove them for free, you run a scan with Malwarebytes Free.

Malwarebytes can run on Windows, Mac, and Android devices. Depending on which operating system is installed on the device you’re trying to run a Malwarebytes scan, please click on the tab below and follow the displayed steps.

Malwarebytes For WindowsMalwarebytes For MacMalwarebytes For Android

Scan your computer with Malwarebytes for Windows to remove malware

Malwarebytes stands out as one of the leading and widely-used anti-malware solutions for Windows, and for good reason. It effectively eradicates various types of malware that other programs often overlook, all at no cost to you. When it comes to disinfecting an infected device, Malwarebytes has consistently been a free and indispensable tool in the battle against malware. We highly recommend it for maintaining a clean and secure system.

  1. Download Malwarebytes for Windows

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    MALWAREBYTES FOR WINDOWS DOWNLOAD LINK
    (The above link will open a new page from where you can download Malwarebytes)
  2.  

    Install Malwarebytes

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    MBAM1
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    When the Malwarebytes installation begins, the setup wizard will guide you through the process.

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      MBAM3 1
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      MBAM4
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      MBAM6 1
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      MBAM5 1
  4. Enable “Rootkit scanning”.

    Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now start, and you will see the main screen as shown below. To maximize Malwarebytes’ ability to detect malware and unwanted programs, we need to enable rootkit scanning. Click on the “Settings” gear icon located on the left of the screen to access the general settings section.

    MBAM8

    In the settings menu, enable the “Scan for rootkits” option by clicking the toggle switch until it turns blue.

    MBAM9

    Now that you have enabled rootkit scanning, click on the “Dashboard” button in the left pane to get back to the main screen.

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    MBAM10
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    MBAM11
  7. Quarantine detected malware

    Once the Malwarebytes scan is complete, it will display a list of detected malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. To effectively remove these threats, click the “Quarantine” button.

    MBAM12

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    MBAM13

  8. Restart your computer.

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    MBAM14

Your computer should now be free of trojans, adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.

If your current antivirus allowed this malicious program on your computer, you may want to consider purchasing Malwarebytes Premium to protect against these types of threats in the future.
If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:

Scan your computer with Malwarebytes for Mac to remove malware

Malwarebytes for Mac is an on-demand scanner that can destroy many types of malware that other software tends to miss without costing you absolutely anything. When it comes to cleaning up an infected device, Malwarebytes has always been free, and we recommend it as an essential tool in the fight against malware.

  1. Download Malwarebytes for Mac.

    You can download Malwarebytes for Mac by clicking the link below.

    MALWAREBYTES FOR MAC DOWNLOAD LINK
    (The above link will open a new page from where you can download Malwarebytes for Mac)
  2. Double-click on the Malwarebytes setup file.

    When Malwarebytes has finished downloading, double-click on the setup file to install Malwarebytes on your computer. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.

    Double-click on setup file to install Malwarebytes

  3. Follow the on-screen prompts to install Malwarebytes.

    When the Malwarebytes installation begins, you will see the Malwarebytes for Mac Installer which will guide you through the installation process. Click “Continue“, then keep following the prompts to continue with the installation process.

    Click Continue to install Malwarebytes for Mac

    Click again on Continue to install Malwarebytes for Mac for Mac

    Click Install to install Malwarebytes on Mac

    When your Malwarebytes installation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen. Click the “Get started” button.

  4. Select “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer”.

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    Select Personal Computer or Work Computer mac

  5. Click on “Scan”.

    To scan your computer with Malwarebytes, click on the “Scan” button. Malwarebytes for Mac will automatically update the antivirus database and start scanning your computer for malware.
    Click on Scan button to start a system scan Mac

  6. Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.

    Malwarebytes will scan your computer for adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
    Wait for Malwarebytes for Mac to scan for malware

  7. Click on “Quarantine”.

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    Review the malicious programs and click on Quarantine to remove malware

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    Malwarebytes For Mac requesting to restart computer

Your Mac should now be free of adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.

If your current antivirus allowed a malicious program on your computer, you might want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future.
If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove a malicious program from your computer, please ask for help in our Mac Malware Removal Help & Support forum.

Scan your phone with Malwarebytes for Android to remove malware

Malwarebytes for Android automatically detects and removes dangerous threats like malware and ransomware so you don’t have to worry about your most-used device being compromised. Aggressive detection of adware and potentially unwanted programs keeps your Android phone or tablet running smooth.

  1. Download Malwarebytes for Android.

    You can download Malwarebytes for Android by clicking the link below.

    MALWAREBYTES FOR ANDROID DOWNLOAD LINK
    (The above link will open a new page from where you can download Malwarebytes for Android)
  2. Install Malwarebytes for Android on your phone.

    In the Google Play Store, tap “Install” to install Malwarebytes for Android on your device.

    Tap Install to install Malwarebytes for Android

    When the installation process has finished, tap “Open” to begin using Malwarebytes for Android. You can also open Malwarebytes by tapping on its icon in your phone menu or home screen.
    Malwarebytes for Android - Open App

  3. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup process

    When Malwarebytes will open, you will see the Malwarebytes Setup Wizard which will guide you through a series of permissions and other setup options.
    This is the first of two screens that explain the difference between the Premium and Free versions. Swipe this screen to continue.
    Malwarebytes Setup Screen 1
    Tap on “Got it” to proceed to the next step.
    Malwarebytes Setup Screen 2
    Malwarebytes for Android will now ask for a set of permissions that are required to scan your device and protect it from malware. Tap on “Give permission” to continue.
    Malwarebytes Setup Screen 3
    Tap on “Allow” to permit Malwarebytes to access the files on your phone.
    Malwarebytes Setup Screen 4

  4. Update database and run a scan with Malwarebytes for Android

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    Malwarebytes fix issue

    Click on “Update database” to update the Malwarebytes for Android definitions to the latest version, then click on “Run full scan” to perform a system scan.

    Update database and run Malwarebytes scan on phone

  5. Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.

    Malwarebytes will now start scanning your phone for adware and other malicious apps. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
    Malwarebytes scanning Android for Vmalware

  6. Click on “Remove Selected”.

    When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes for Android has detected. To remove the malicious apps that Malwarebytes has found, tap on the “Remove Selected” button.
    Remove malware from your phone

  7. Restart your phone.

    Malwarebytes for Android will now remove all the malicious apps that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your device.


Your phone should now be free of adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.

If your current antivirus allowed a malicious app on your phone, you may want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes to protect against these types of threats in the future.
If you are still having problems with your phone after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:

How to Stay Safe Online

Here are 10 basic security tips to help you avoid malware and protect your device:

  1. Use a good antivirus and keep it up-to-date.

    Shield Guide

    It's essential to use a good quality antivirus and keep it up-to-date to stay ahead of the latest cyber threats. We are huge fans of Malwarebytes Premium and use it on all of our devices, including Windows and Mac computers as well as our mobile devices. Malwarebytes sits beside your traditional antivirus, filling in any gaps in its defenses, and providing extra protection against sneakier security threats.

  2. Keep software and operating systems up-to-date.

    updates-guide

    Keep your operating system and apps up to date. Whenever an update is released for your device, download and install it right away. These updates often include security fixes, vulnerability patches, and other necessary maintenance.

  3. Be careful when installing programs and apps.

    install guide

    Pay close attention to installation screens and license agreements when installing software. Custom or advanced installation options will often disclose any third-party software that is also being installed. Take great care in every stage of the process and make sure you know what it is you're agreeing to before you click "Next."

  4. Install an ad blocker.

    Ad Blocker

    Use a browser-based content blocker, like AdGuard. Content blockers help stop malicious ads, Trojans, phishing, and other undesirable content that an antivirus product alone may not stop.

  5. Be careful what you download.

    Trojan Horse

    A top goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware—programs or apps that carry malware or try to steal information. This malware can be disguised as an app: anything from a popular game to something that checks traffic or the weather.

  6. Be alert for people trying to trick you.

    warning sign

    Whether it's your email, phone, messenger, or other applications, always be alert and on guard for someone trying to trick you into clicking on links or replying to messages. Remember that it's easy to spoof phone numbers, so a familiar name or number doesn't make messages more trustworthy.

  7. Back up your data.

    backup sign

    Back up your data frequently and check that your backup data can be restored. You can do this manually on an external HDD/USB stick, or automatically using backup software. This is also the best way to counter ransomware. Never connect the backup drive to a computer if you suspect that the computer is infected with malware.

  8. Choose strong passwords.

    lock sign

    Use strong and unique passwords for each of your accounts. Avoid using personal information or easily guessable words in your passwords. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts whenever possible.

  9. Be careful where you click.

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    Be cautious when clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. These could potentially contain malware or phishing scams.

  10. Don't use pirated software.

    Shady Guide

    Avoid using Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing programs, keygens, cracks, and other pirated software that can often compromise your data, privacy, or both.

To avoid potential dangers on the internet, it's important to follow these 10 basic safety rules. By doing so, you can protect yourself from many of the unpleasant surprises that can arise when using the web.