419 scam: "BONGA"<on57@tsamail.co.za> 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:

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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- on58@tsamail.co.za (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "BONGA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <on58@tsamail.co.za>
Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2007 04:47:07 -0800
Subject: Good day

FROM: MR. TITO BONGA

REPLY TO: on58@tsamail.co.za

ATTN: DIRECTOR.

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

May I have the pleasure of introducing myself? I am Mr. Tito Bongo , a senior staff and chairman of Tender Board Committee on the award of contracts in the Department of Works and Housing here in South Africa . I got your contact E-mail address from an international directory on lawyers and advisers on international business in my quest to find a trustworthy person on whom I can repose confidence for colossal international money transaction. My aim of sending this to you is to solicit for your assistance and co-operation to transfer some huge amount of money into your account overseas. Therefore, this communication should be held in high confidence.

My colleague and I in the Department of Works and Land Affairs wish to transfer into a safe and secured account overseas, the sum of THIRTY TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED US DOLLARS which is over-invoiced amount from contracts we awarded to foreign contractors who have been duly paid on completion of their various contracts. This money right now is in a coded account in the Reserve Bank of South Africa. However, by virtue of our position as civil servants, we cannot acquire these funds in our names or in the names of companies here in South Africa.

I was therefore asked by my colleagues on trust and sincerity to look for a reliable international outfit partner abroad into whose account the sum will be transferred. We have agreed on the following sharing ratio if you accept our proposal. Seventy percent for us and Thirty percent for you, the Account owner.

My choice of you for this transaction is basically hanged on your field and profession, hence this business proposal. If you are interested in this deal, I will require some information from you in order to affect the transfer of the money. Please, be informed that we shall commence processing of claims of payment once we receive your interest from you, and the funds will get into your account within Five (5) working days by Telegraphic

Transfer (T.T). Note that this transaction is risk free. Do acknowledge the receipt of this letter above and forward your reply to this ( on58@tsamail.co.za ) E-mail address or you can send me your private phone no. so that we can talk.

Best Regards
Mr. Tito Bonga.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam