419 scam: "Nicolas Smith (Mr)" <mrnicolassmith11@webmail.co.za> Dear Friend,

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Nicolas Smith (Mr)" <mrnicolassmith11@webmail.co.za>
Reply-To: mrnicolassmith_1@sify.com
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:26:36 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Dear Friend,

--
Dear Friend,

I know this letter will be getting to you as a surprise but please I would
indulge you to treat it with ultimate good faith to enable us have a
mutual business relationship.My name is Nicolas Smith; I am a South
African by birth, resident in London.

I am the Head, Claims department {Atg} For NORWICH UNION London.During the
course of my job, I came across a file belonging to an American who has
worked in England for twenty two years (22yrs), he died in a motor
accident two years ago and as a matter of fact, he is entitled to some
claims.

1) Workmen Compensation (W.C)
2) Pension Scheme

(Working entitlement)Unfortunately, when we tried to contact his wife who
is his next of kin,we were informed by a new occupant of the apartment
that she died seven months ago.What I need you to do is to play the role
of his next of kin to enable us process all his entitlements as they run
into $7.2 million.

I shall send you the details of this transaction as soon as you give your
consent on this claim.And I also assure you that we shall have more of
such insurance related claims to make when we seal up this particular
deal.We will also agree on sharing method before we embark on this
transaction. Thanks!

Yours Sincerely

Nicolas Smith (Mr)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam