419 scam: "FRANCOIS GOUWS" <godfrey@mshumpela.co.za> YOUR URGENT RESPONDS HIGHLY NEEDED

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million british pounds" (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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "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)
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.
- +447045725847 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- francoisgouws1@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "FRANCOIS GOUWS" <godfrey@mshumpela.co.za>
Reply-To: francoisgouws1@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2013 01:00:39 +0200
Subject: YOUR URGENT RESPONDS HIGHLY NEEDED

Global Head of Equities Research
UBS Investment Bank London
1 Finsbury Avenue London EC2M 2PP
Private Tell: +447045725847

My Dear Friend,

My name is Mr.Francois UBS Investment Bank Global Head of Equities
Research,I have decided to seek a confidential co-operation with you in
the execution of the deal described here-under for our both mutual benefit
and hope you will keep it a top secret because of the nature of the
transaction, During the course of our bank yearly auditing, I discovered
an unclaimed/abandoned fund, sum total of £ 15.000,000.00 GBPS (Fifteen
Million British Pounds sterling) in an account that belongs to one of our
foreign customers (Late Mr. Terry Ryan) an American who unfortunately
lost his life and family, in the United Airlines Flight 93 which crashed
in southwest Pennsylvania in September 11, 2001.
Now our bank has been waiting for any of the relatives to come-up for the
claim but nobody has done that. I personally has been unsuccessful in
locating any of the relatives for 4 years now, I sincerely seek your
consent to present you as the next of kin / Will Beneficiary to the
deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at {GBP£ 15 Million
British Pounds Sterling} can be paid to you, which we will share in these
percentages ratio, 60% to me and 40% to you.
I choose you because of Geographical location of your country and your
address from a business directory here in London chamber of commerce,all
that I require from you is your sincere co-operation; trust and utmost
confidentiality to enable us conduct this transaction successfully. I
assure you that this transaction will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law both in your
country and here in London once the fund is transferred to your bank
account. Upon your consideration and acceptance of this offer, please
proceed immediately and send to me the following information.

-Your Full Name,
-Your Contact Address
-Your Direct Mobile Telephone Number.
-Your Age

This information will enable me to upload your data into our bank database
to reflect in the bank network system that you are the named next of
kin/will beneficiary of this fund and I will guide you on how to open
communication with the bank and make the claims for onward transfer of the
fund to you, please note that we have few days to carry out this deal,
While i wait for Your kind rapid response through my Private email
francoisgouws1@hotmail.com i will be highly appreciated.

Thanking you in anticipation for your prompt response.

Regards,

Mr.Francois gouges

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam