419 scam: "Pro. Johnson Vusi" <lord.uk77@att.net> Strictly Confidential

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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:
- "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)
- "is 100% 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 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.
- +27711943260 (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.
- pro.vusi62@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Pro. Johnson Vusi" <lord.uk77@att.net>
Reply-To: <pro.jvusi@live.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2011 19:43:46 -0800
Subject: Strictly Confidential

>From Pro. Johnson Vusi
Department of Works & Housing
Tel: +27-711943260

Strictly Confidential

Compliment of the day, May I have the pleasure of introducing myself? I am Pro. Johnson Vusi a senior staff and chairman of Tender Board Committee on the award of contracts in Department of Works and Housing here in South Africa. I got your contact E-mail address through the internet in my search to find a trustworthy person on whom I can repose confidence for colossal international money transaction.

My aim of sending this "business proposal" to you is to solicit for your assistance and co-operation to transfer some huge amount of fund into your account overseas. Therefore, this communication should be held in high confidence.
My colleague and I in the Department of Works & Housing wish to transfer into a safe and secured account overseas, the sum of THIRTY MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS (US$30.5M) 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 therefore asked by my colleague on trust and sincerity to look for a reliable international outfit partner abroad into whose account the sum of US$30.5 Million would be transferred. We have agreed on the following sharing ratio if you accept our proposal.

1. Sixty percent (60%) for us and thirty percent (30%) for you, the Account owner (5%) will be for expenses both parties Might have incurred during the process of the transferring, and (5%) will be preserved for helping the helpless people, like charity organization and motherless babies.
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’s from you in order to affect the transfer of the money. Please, be inform 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 100% risk free. Do acknowledge the receipt of this letter by indicating your interest in this transaction and also reply to my private e-mail: pro.vusi62@gmail.com including your direct contact details such as your telephone and fax numbers for easy communication.

Yours faithfully
Pro. Johnson Vusi

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam