419 scam: "Davids Harris" <d_hs@nat.bg> SELECTED

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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- davidharris.attorney@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Davids Harris" <d_hs@nat.bg>
Reply-To: davidharris.attorney@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2020 04:25:49 +0300
Subject: SELECTED

DAVIDS HARRIS ATTORNEY
FREDMAN TOWERS,
13 FREDMAN DRIVE, SANDTON
JOHANNESBURG GAUTENG
SOUTH AFRICA

Dear Confidant,

I got your information while searching for a reliable person who will
assist me in a business proposal that will be of great benefit to both you
and me. I have laid all the trust in you before I decided to disclose this
confidential transaction to you.

I know this proposal will come to you as a surprise for the fact that we
have not met before believing that transaction of this magnitude will make
anyone apprehensive or worried but I can assure you that you will not
regret been part of this mutual beneficial transaction.
SUBJECT: A deceased Client of mine Name withhold, whom here in shall be
referred to as my client, made a numbered time Fixed Deposit for twelve
calendar months valued at US$5.5Million Dollars (Five Million, Five
Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only with one of the commercial
Bank here in South Africa on the January 12, 2013.

My client was a Mining Engineer with Trans Hex Group Limited. Upon
maturity the Bank sent a routine notification in accordance with the
Company policy to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month
they sent a reminder and finally it was discovered from his contract
employers my client was a Mining Engineer with the Trans Hex Group
Limited. That My Client, his wife and their three children died in plane
crash in the year 2013.

On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a Will
and all attempts to trace his next of kin were fruitless. I therefore made
further investigations and discovered that my client did not declare any
next of kin or relations in the Deposit paperwork with the Bank.
This sum of US$5.5Million I understand was kept in the bank for
safekeeping for a contract that he intended to execute. No one will ever
come forward to claim it and according to the South African Reserve Bank
Amendment Act 10 of 1993 at the expiration of 10 years the money will
revert to the ownership of the South African Government, if no one comes
forward to claim the fund.

My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the Next
of kin and beneficiary of my deceased client so that the proceeds of this
account valued at US$5.5million can be paid to you, so we can share the
amount on a mutually agreed percentage of 50% for me 50% for you.

All legal documents to back up your claim as the deceased Next of Kin will
be provided by me. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us
see this transaction through. I guarantee you that this will be executed
under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of
the law.
Note: This fund is free from drug and money laundering related offences.
Your most urgent response with your Name and Private Phone Number will be
highly appreciated to avoid making further contacts.

Regards,
Davids Harris Esq.
Tel: +27 65 501 5283
Email: davidharris.attorney@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam