419 scam: "FROM OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR"<mrjohnbrown11@hotmail.com> FROM OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR,

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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:
- "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)
- "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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "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)
- "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.
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.
- mrjohnbrown894@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "FROM OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrjohnbrown894@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2016 16:56:59 +0200
Subject: FROM OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR,

ESKOM HOLDINGS LIMITED

FROM OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR,

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION UNIT

ESKOM HOLDINGS LIMITED

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

MOBILE NO:+(27) 604-660-302

Email:mrjohnbrown894@gmail.com

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$35M will be released and

transferred into your account.

My name is Mr John Brown a Director with the contract award committee

of Eskom Company Ltd, Republic of South Africa. It is my profound

intention to contact you for this very important and highly

confidential transaction for the transfer of US$18,500, 000,.00 into

your account. the (US$18,500,000.00) was the overestimated balance

from the contracts awarded to both foreign and local contractors the

real contract value was $120 million united states dollars, but it was

over estimated to the tune of (US$138,500, 000,00) (one hundred and

Thirty Eight million, Five Hundred Thousand united states dollars

only).

The contract has been successfully executed by the contractors and

their contract sum of (US$120M) has been paid to them, leaving our

over estimated balance of (US$18,500, 000. 00) United States dollars

still pending at the bank. Right now, we are left with this over

estimated balance of (US$18.5M) 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 there, I shall obtain visa and travel with my family to

meet with you for my own share of this money. In this regards would

like you to send me the following information through the email

address below for security reasons Email:mrjohnbrown894@gmail.com

Your Name

your Address:

Your Private Phone

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 John Brown.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam