419 scam: "Mr. Mpho Makwana" <chuks

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:

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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- "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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "contract award committee" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Mpho Makwana" <chuks_17@yahoo.co.in>
Reply-To: mrdcarnold_27@worldmail.co.za
Date: Tue, 18 May 2010 00:44:39 +0530 (IST)
Subject: URGENT

Eskom
Holdings Limited

Reg No 2002/015527/06

From office of the Director,

Project Implementation Unit

Eskom Holdings Limited

Republic of South Africa

Megawatt Park, Maxwell Drive,

Ext 3, Sunninghill, Sandton

JOHANNESBURG

www.eskom.co.za

http://www.eskom.co.za/live/content.php?Category_ID=562

http://www.southafrica.info/business/economy/infrastructure/alstom-241109.htm

http://www.bing.com/search?q=Eskom+S...ica&FORM=R5FD5

Dear Sir/Madam,

I know that this proposal may come to you as a surprise especially having to
come from someone you have not met before, but i would like you to co-operate
with me so that this US$15m USD will be released and transferred into your
account. My name is Mr. Mpho makwana acting chief executive of Eskom /chairman
of contract award Committee of Eskom company ltd, republic of South Africa. It
is my profound d intention to contact you for this very important and highly
confidential transaction for the transfer of US$15 million dollars into your
account. The (US$15,000,000,00) was the overestimated balance from the
contracts awarded to both foreign and local contractors the real contract value
was $140 million united states dollars, but it was over estimated to the tune
of (US$155,000, 000,00) (one hundred and fifty five million united states
dollars only).

The contract has been successfully executed by the contractors and their contract
sum of (US$140m) has been paid to them, leaving our over estimated balance of
(US$15, 000, 000,00) fifteen million united states dollars still pending at the
bank. Right now, we are left with this over estimated balance of (US$15m) which
is still floating at the escrow account in the South African reserve bank
awaiting final payment to any reliable foreign bank account you may provide.

I am therefore asking you to co-operate with me so that the fund will be
released and transferred into your account. if you are interested in this my
proposal, reply me so that we can negotiate your percentage before we can
proceed however, when the fund is transferred into your account over t here, i
shall obtain visa and travel with my family over

youâ€™re name:

youâ€™re age:

company:

youâ€™re occupation:

name of company:

youâ€™re address:

your private phone :

your private fax numbers:

thank you and i am looking forward to hearing from you and working with you
soon, bye for now and have a nice day.

My best regards,

Mr. Mpho Makwana

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam