419 scam: Davids Harris <snpsdept@gmail.com> Hi there,

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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:
- "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. )
- "million us 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.

Fraud email example:

From: Davids Harris <snpsdept@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dharrisattorney@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2021 04:42:07 +0200
Subject: Hi there,

Dear confidant,

I'm Davids Harris, am an attorney by profession. I have an urgent
lucrative proposition for your consideration that should be handled
with extreme confidentiality, A client of mine from USA who died few
years back, failed to establish a legal last will during his living
years(next of kin), therefore i seek your accord to present you as the
Next of kin of my deceased to the bank so that the proceeds of his
account valued at US$5.5million us dollars can be paid to you,and 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 to 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 offenses.

If your interest is genuine please kindly contact me through my
private email below with your Name, Private Phone Number, Nationality
and Age.

Regards.

Davids Harris Esq.
Tel: +27 65 560 3040

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam