419 scam: "Mike Kumalo" <mikekumalo110@outlook.com> RF

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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:
- "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "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)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
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.
- +27742486271 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mike Kumalo" <mikekumalo110@outlook.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mikekumalo02@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 4 Jul 2017 10:03:26 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: RF

Greetings,
This mail may come to you as a surprise, but I believe it takes only a
moment that people meet, become great friends and business partner. My
name is Mr. Mike Kumalo. The present branch Manager of a bank here in
South Africa. I write you this proposal in good faith, believing that I
can trust you with the information I am about to reveal to you and that
will eventually benefit both of us but your assistance will be required as
a foreigner.

I use to head the Accounts department in our head office, but last
December I was asked to take position of a branch Manager in one of our
branches in which their manager has died. As I resumed duty, I discovered
a dormant account with total sum of $6.8.million {Six Million Eight
Hundred Thousand United States Dollars} that has not been serviced on for
the past 3 years.

Later on, I found out that this account belongs to one Late Dr. Toufic Al
Hakim, a citizen of Lebanon who died in terminal disease. As I have kept a
close monitoring of the account since then nobody has come forward to
claim the money as next of kin to the Late Dr. Toufic Al Hakim, meaning
that no one is aware of the account. I cannot directly take out this money
without the help of a foreigner and that is why I am contacting you for an
assistance to claim the funds and share it with me. As the Manager of my
bank branch, I have the power to influence the release of the funds to any
foreigner that comes up as the next of kin to the account, with the
correct information concerning the account, which I shall give you. I am
seeking your co-operation to present you as the next of kin to the
account.
This may sound too good to be true but there is absolutely no harm in
trial, also a wise man once said that the cave we fear to enter many at
times holds the treasure we have long seeking.

There is practically no risk involved, the transaction will be executed
under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law.
If you accept to work with me, I want you to state how you want us to
share the funds in percentage, so that both parties will be satisfied.
Contact me as soon as you receive this message if you feel we can work
together, so as to give you more details.
Please, treat with utmost confidentiality and a top secret in respect of
my sensitive position in my bank.
Meanwhile, I will like to speak with you on phone for more information
that is if you deem it sensible to proceed with me
Best regards,
Mr Mike Kumalo
+27742486271

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam