419 scam: "ERWIN DOUGLAS"<info@indemnityfinance.com> RE:IMMEDIATE RESPONSE REQUESTED ASAP

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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:
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "ERWIN DOUGLAS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <erwindouglas1@live.com>
Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2011 21:38:42 -0000
Subject: RE:IMMEDIATE RESPONSE REQUESTED ASAP

Attention:
I am Erwin Douglas, Head of the Investment Management & Banking, Amalgamated Bank of South Africa (ABSA). I am currently on an official assignment here in Hong Kong. I am contacting you concerning a deceased and the investment he placed under our bank management some years ago. Before his untimely death, he made a deposit valued at Nine Million, Four Hundred Thousand United States Dollars for twelve calendar months in my branch.

The deceased died along with his supposed next of kin and ever since then nobody has come forward for the claims. In accordance with the country financial Laws, at the expiration of 7 (Seven) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the government if nobody applies as the next of kin to claim the funds. Since you share first name with my late client, I, working with you can secure the funds in our favour instead of allowing my bank to revert it to the government as unclaimed funds.

Should this interest you, please, do kindly get back to me for more details with full names and phone numbers and also, your percentage is negotiable.

Thanks,
Erwin Douglas

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam