419 scam: "Engr. M.Z. Jacobs"<engrjacobsmz@sapo.pt> REQUEST FOR CONFIDENTIAL CO-OPERATION-!!

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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Engr. M.Z. Jacobs" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <engrjacobsmz@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 9 May 2011 18:52:37 +0200
Subject: REQUEST FOR CONFIDENTIAL CO-OPERATION-!!

>From the Desk of: Engr. Michael Z. Jacobs (Project Management Director).

DEPT. OF MINERAL AND ENERGY, REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA.

Dear Sir/Madam,

REQUEST FOR CONFIDENTIAL COOPERATION

I write to you, your company, asking for your indulgence in re-profiling funds to the tune of Twelve Million Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars (US$12,650.000.00) which we want to transfer and keep safely for investment purpose under your supervision. In other words, we would like you to receive the said funds on our behalf. This Funds were derived from over-invoiced projects awarded to foreign contractors by my committee, and presently the actual contract cost have been paid to the original project executors, leaving the balance in the tune of the said amount which we have in principle obtained approval to remit overseas.

With me as the head of this committee saddled with the responsibility of reconciling contractual payments and the implementation of projects, the transfer will be legally processed and approved by the Ministry of Finance as contractual payment due to you or your company.

We have agreed to negotiate a reasonable compensation for your participation and I propose 22.2% for you, while we also propose that we receive 46.6% and 31.2% be earmarked for purposes of taxation. Please, contact me immediately if this proposal is acceptable to you for further discussions with you.

I wait in anticipation of your fullest cooperation.

Yours Sincerely,
Engr. M.Z. Jacobs

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam