419 scam: "From Advocate Johanna Lebogang Ramufhi"<donotreply@dmegov.com> Re: I hope that all is well with you

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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:
- "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)
- "attorneys " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "execman@dmegov.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +27731118057 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "From Advocate Johanna Lebogang Ramufhi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <execman@dmegov.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:46:53 +0200
Subject: Re: I hope that all is well with you

>From Advocate Johanna Lebogang Ramufhi
Johanna Lebogang Ramufhi & Attorneys
Johannesburg South Africa.
Contact Tel + 27 73 111 8057.

Greetings with good faith. I'm Advocate Johanna Lebogang Ramufhi, a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to Mr. Mack (CEO) a national of your country, who use to work with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in South Africa. Here in after shall be referred to as my client.

On Sunday, 2 February, 2003, my client, his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident in Polokwane. My client and his family unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives but all to no avail. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you.

I have contacted you to assist 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. Particularly, the finance company where the deceased had an account valued at about USD$30.95 million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next few weeks.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over Five years now. I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account valued at USD30.95 million dollars can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money in the following ration: 60% to me and 40% to you. I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make.

I have worked out the modalities of this transaction. All I require is your sincere cooperation to enable us seeing this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Please if you are interested to work with me with good faith and honesty, All you have to do is to send me Your company name and address if any, Your telephone and fax numbers which I will use to process and procure all the legal papers/documents that backs you up as the true next of kin to my client and I will submit it to the Finance house for proper Claim of the fund. I hope to hear further response from you regards the successful conclusion of this great success.

Respectfully,
Advocate Johanna Lebogang Ramufhi.
E-mail (execman@dmegov.com)

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What can you do when you receive 419 spam