419 scam: "Gerhard Law" <inquiry@shinpo-en.com> Good Day

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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:
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Gerhard Law" <inquiry@shinpo-en.com>
Reply-To: g_harl@yahoo.com.tr
Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2017 01:19:24 +0100
Subject: Good Day

Good Day,

My name is Gerhard, a Lawyer from Germany. I have tried to contact you severally without luck, I hope you get my message this time and respond immediately for a lucrative business discussion.

I have a client who worked with a top construction company here in Germany but unfortunately lost his life in Germanwings plane crash which was scheduled from Barcelona El Prat Airport in Spain to Düsseldorf Airport in Germany on 24 March 2015 as you can read on the following link: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32063587

My late client made a fixed deposit of funds valued at US$14 Million with a bank and died intestate. He had no living relative, he lost his only son years ago which led to his wife divorcing him in June, 2006 as such there is no clear beneficiary as Next of Kin to file for the claims.

I have all the deposit documents and information in my possession therefore, under a clear and legitimate agreement with you, I seek your consent to present you to the bank as the next of kin to my late client so that, this funds will not be confiscated by the bank. Be informed that there is no risk involved because presenting you to the bank as the only surviving maternal relative gives us 100% opportunity to claim the funds successfully without any complications.

You and I can share the money, you will be entitled to 50% of the total funds for your role, while the balance 50% will be for me. Once again be informed that there is no risk involved as all the legal documents that will be needed to back you up as the true and only surviving maternal relative will be procured by me.

All I require is your sincerity, honesty, co-operation and utmost good faith to enable us achieve this successfully under a legitimate arrangement.

Kindly send me your information below to enable us discuss in details

(1) Full Names:
(2) Mobile Number:
(3) Occupation:
(4) Age:

Please do not forget a project of this magnitude requires utmost confidentiality and sincerity.
I look forward to your response soon.

Regards,

Gerhard

Anti-fraud resources:

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