419 scam: "Raymond Khosa"<raymondkhosaproject@classicmail.co.za> MEMO

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +27710946057 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- willcosaproject@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Raymond Khosa" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <willcosaproject056@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 17:07:33 -0700
Subject: MEMO

From the Desk of: Engr. William Khosa
Project Management Director

MEMO
DIRECT TEL NO.: +27 71 094 6057 Date: 1 June, 2009
DIRECT FAX: +27 11 507 5638
Email: willcosaproject@gmail.com

URGENT PROPOSAL.

Greetings,

May I solicit your cooperation in the re-profiling of funds approved to my department by the Finance Department for adequate disbursement and subsequent execution of contracts towards the 2010 FIFA world cup. My department has been saddled with the responsibility of awarding and vetting of contracts to foreign companies for the re-engineering and resuscitation of major social facilities.

As the director of project implementation, I seek your assistance in the re-profiling of an excess fund to the tune of US$56,500,000.00 which we want to keep safely overseas under your supervision. In other words, we would like you to receive the said funds on our behalf. Be advised that this endeavor has no risk factor on your part as the transfer process will be legitimately processed by us and approved by the Department of Finance as contractual payment due to you or your company. I have the authority and approval of my partners involved in this transaction to negotiate a suitable compensation for your participation and I propose 30 percent, while we also propose that we receive 50 percent and 20 percent be earmarked for purposes of taxation.

Please, treat this with utmost discretion and revert back to me if you are interested via my fax number, email address or telephone number above for further discussions.

Looking forward to your positive cooperation.

Yours Sincerely,
Engr. William Khosa.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam