419 scam: "MR. EDWARD MBETE" <zataremj@indosat.net.id> Good day,,

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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "first national bank" (not involved with lotteries)
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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)
- "million 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)
- "foreign exchange" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "chief auditor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- mredwardmbete9@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. EDWARD MBETE" <zataremj@indosat.net.id>
Reply-To: concorde@bsnl.in
Date: Tue, 2 Jul 2019 19:56:00 +0700 (WIT)
Subject: Good day,,

FROM: MR. EDWARD MBETE
JOHANNESBURG SOUTH AFRICA
TEL: +27-672137462
EMAIL:mredwardmbete9@gmail.com

URGENT BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
Good day,

My name is Mr. Edward Mbete the Chief Auditor of First National Bank
of South Africa (FNB) there is an account opened in this bank in 2016
and since 2017 nobody has operated on this account again. After going
through some old files in the records, I discovered that if I do not
remit this money out urgently it would be forfeited.

The owner of this account is Mr. Clifford M, Thompson a foreigner and a
Miner at Kruger Gold Company. A Geologist by profession died in 2012,
No one knows about this account or anything concerning it the account
has no other beneficiary and the investigation proves to me as well
that his company does not know anything about this account and the
amount in the account at the moment is (US$15.000.000.00 Million
Dollars, Fifteen Million United States Dollars)

As the money is in United States Dollars I need a foreign
partner/account to transfer the money overseas thus I am contacting
you. Please kindly indicate and if so contact me on the above phone
numbers to enable me inform you on next step to take. There is no risk
at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the
attorney and my position guarantees the successful execution of this
transaction. I need your full co-operation to make this transaction
work because the management is ready to approve this payment to any
foreigner who has correct information on this account, which I will
give you if you indicate your interest. I hope you can be able to
handle such amount in strict confidence because this opportunity will
never come again in my life. I need truthful person in this business
relationship because I donâ€™t want to make any mistake and I need your
strong assurance and confidentiality. With my position now in the
office I can transfer this money to any reliable foreign account, with
assurance that this money will be intact pending my physical arrival in
your country for sharing.

All documents regarding this transaction will be destroyed once I
receive confirmation of the money in your account thus leaving no trace
to anything. I will apply for annual leave to get visa immediately on
confirmation to receive this fund into your designated account with
appropriate clearance forms from the Ministries and Foreign Exchange
Departments. At the conclusion of this business you will be given 25%
of the total amount, 70% will be for me, while 5% will be for expenses
that we might incur during the course of this transaction.

Please kindly call me on the above private phone numbers before sending
a fax or a mail message for security reasons. While Iâ€™m looking forward
to receive your immediate reply by phone or email as soon as you
receive this letter.

Best regards,

Mr. Edward Mbete
This is urgent matter kindly respond to me with mredwardmbete9@gmail.
com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam