419 scam: "Ms. Susan C. Merwe"<info@catchandbuy.com> Hello,

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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:
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- +27843580712 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Ms. Susan C. Merwe" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <susan_merwe@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2015 15:20:15 -0700
Subject: Hello,

Hello,

My apology as I am contacting you through email; It is because it serves as the fastest and more convenient way to get to you, I am Ms Susan Comber Van Der Merwe Deputy Minister of International Relations from South Africa, I request your assistance for this reason after the death of my husband I find out that my husband has some funds in an offshore account $8.600, 000 USD without a beneficiary Details: I want you to receive the fund due to my position in the government. I want to invest in your company.

I will appreciate if you can call me on my private number (+27-843580712) to discuss about the matter, if you can not get me on phone writer me email. I will give you more details and my profile as I hear from you.

Best Regard,
Ms Susan Comber Van Der Merwe

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam