419 scam: "FROM: MR.David John" <bongani4@att.net> FROM: MR.David John

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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "mr.davidjohn@mcom.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- +27730224759 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "FROM: MR.David John" <bongani4@att.net>
Reply-To: <mr.davidjohn@mcom.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2011 08:28:11 -0700
Subject: FROM: MR.David John

FROM: MR.David John
AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING UNIT
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPT
CAPITEC BANK SOUTH AFRICA
(CAPITEC)ANNEX JOHANNESBURG.
Private Email: mr.davidjohn@mcom.com

Dear Friend,

This message might meet you in utmost surprise; however, it's just my urgent
need for a foreign partner that made me to contact you for this transaction.
I am a banker by profession with the (CAPITEC BANK) South Africa and
currently holding a post as the Director of Auditing and Accounting unit of
the bank. I have the opportunity of transferring the left over funds

($18.5million) originally owned by one of my bank clients Mr. Kurt Kahle who
died along with his entire family on 31 July 2000 in a plane crash. You can
confirm genuinely the deceased‘s death by logging into this web site
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

Meanwhile the whole arrangements and directives needed to put claim over
this fund as the bona-fide next of kin to the deceased will be forward to
you upon your acceptance, information will be relayed to you as soon as you
indicate your interest and willingness to assist us and also benefit your
self to this great business opportunity
Hence, I am inviting you for a business deal where this money can be shared
between us in the ratio of 60% for me and 30% for you, while 10% will be
mapped out for expenses if you agree to my proposal.

Please, you have been advised to keep this as top secret as I am still in
service and intend to retire from active service after I conclude this deal
with you. I will be monitoring the whole situation here in the bank until
you confirm that the money is in your account and ask me to come down to
your country for subsequent sharing of the fund according to the percentages
previously indicated above and for further investment, either in your

country or any other country you may advice me to invest in. All other
necessary information will be sent to you when I hear from you. I suggest
you get back to me as soon as possible stating your willingness to assist
and be fully involved in this deal.

(1) Your Full Name and your address
(2) Your telephone/fax numbers
(3) Your Nationality
(4) Your Age
(5) Your occupation
Furthermore please contact me through my private Email Address
above for more information or contact me by phone +27 730 224 759

Best Regard

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam