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.
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:-XVGNN82023I 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.AAll 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 CardYours 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.comOur 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.
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 runs on Windows, Mac, and Android. Click the tab below for the device you want to scan, then follow the steps to remove any malware it finds.
Scan Your Computer with Malwarebytes for Windows
Malwarebytes is one of the most popular and trusted anti-malware tools for Windows — and it’s completely free for removing infections. It catches threats that many antivirus programs miss, including adware, browser hijackers, and trojans. Follow the steps below to scan and clean your PC in just a few minutes.
Download Malwarebytes
Click the button below to download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Windows from the official source. The free version is all you need — it will scan your computer and remove adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious software at no cost.
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Malwarebytes Free for WindowsScans and removes malware at no cost-
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When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the MBSetup file. If Windows shows a User Account Control pop-up, click “Yes” to allow the installation.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
The setup wizard will walk you through a few quick screens:
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Choose where you’re installing the program — “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer” — then click Next.
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Malwarebytes will now install on your device. This usually takes under a minute.
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When installation is complete, the “Welcome to Malwarebytes” screen will open automatically.
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On the final screen, click Open Malwarebytes to launch the program.
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Enable “Scan for Rootkits”
Before scanning, turn on rootkit detection so Malwarebytes can find even the most hidden threats. Click the Settings gear icon on the left side of the screen.
In the settings menu, find “Scan for rootkits” and click the toggle so it turns blue.
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Start the Scan
Click the blue Scan button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its virus database and start checking your computer for malware.
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Wait for the Scan to Finish
The scan checks your entire system for browser hijackers and other malicious programs, so it can take 5 to 20 minutes depending on your computer. Feel free to do something else — just check back occasionally to see the progress.
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Quarantine the Detected Threats
When the scan is done, you’ll see a list of everything Malwarebytes found — malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. Click the “Quarantine” button to remove all of them at once.
Malwarebytes will now remove the malicious files and registry entries and move them safely into quarantine.
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Restart Your Computer
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If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
- Run a computer scan with ESET Online Scanner
- Ask for help in our Windows Malware Removal Help & Support forum.
Scan Your Mac with Malwarebytes for Mac
Malwarebytes for Mac is a free on-demand scanner that removes the malware other security software tends to miss — adware, browser hijackers, and unwanted programs included. Cleaning an infected Mac with Malwarebytes has always been completely free, and it’s our go-to recommendation. Follow the steps below to scan and clean your Mac in just a few minutes.
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Download Malwarebytes for Mac
Click the button below to download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Mac.
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Open the Malwarebytes setup file
When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the setup file to begin the installation.
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Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
The Malwarebytes for Mac Installer will guide you through a few quick screens. Click “Continue” and keep following the prompts until the installation completes.
When the installation is complete, Malwarebytes opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen. Click “Get started“.
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Select “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer”
Malwarebytes will ask what type of computer you’re installing it on. Click either Personal Computer or Work Computer, whichever applies.
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Start the Scan
Click the “Scan” button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its detection database and begin checking your Mac for malware.
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Wait for the Scan to Finish
Malwarebytes will scan your Mac for adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious programs. This can take a few minutes, so feel free to do something else — just check back occasionally to see the progress.
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Quarantine the Detected Threats
When the scan is done, you’ll see a list of everything Malwarebytes found. Click the “Quarantine” button to remove all the threats at once.
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Restart Your Mac
Malwarebytes will now remove all the malicious files it found. Some threats can only be fully removed after a reboot — if Malwarebytes asks you to restart, allow it. Once you’re logged back in, your Mac is clean.
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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
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.
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Download Malwarebytes for Android.
You can download Malwarebytes for Android by clicking the link below.
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Install Malwarebytes for Android on your phone.
In the Google Play Store, tap “Install” to install Malwarebytes for Android on your device.
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.
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Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup process
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This is the first of two screens that explain the difference between the Premium and Free versions. Swipe this screen to continue.
Tap on “Got it” to proceed to the next step.
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.
Tap on “Allow” to permit Malwarebytes to access the files on your phone.
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Update database and run a scan with Malwarebytes for Android
You will now be prompted to update the Malwarebytes database and run a full system scan.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
That’s it — your Android device is now free of malicious apps, adware, and browser redirects.
If you are still having problems with your phone after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
- Restore your phone to factory settings by going to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset.
- Ask for help in our Mobile Malware Removal Help & Support forum.
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