419 scam: "Mrs. Graca M. Mandela" <frankgregy@gmail.com> JUST TO THANK YOU.

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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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- +27787829810 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- standardbkbank@africamail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Graca M. Mandela" <frankgregy@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2022 01:51:40 -0700
Subject: JUST TO THANK YOU.

Beloved Friend,

How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family? I hope this
mail meets you in a perfect condition.

You may not understand why this mail came to you. But if you do not
remember me, you might have received an email from me in the past regarding
the $60.5 Million transfer proposal which we never concluded. I am using
this opportunity to inform you that the transfer has been concluded with
another person who financed it to a logical conclusion.

I thank you for your great effort to put our unfinished transaction of
funds into your account due to one reason or the other best known to you.
But I want to inform you that I have successfully transferred the fund out
of the bank here in South Africa to my new partner's account in China that
was capable of assisting me in this great venture.

Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trustworthiness you showed
during the course of the transaction I want to compensate you and show my
gratitude to you with the sum of $850,000.(Eight hundred and Fifty thousand
United States dollars). I have left an international bank Cheque for you
worth $850,000 .My dear friend, I want you to contact Mr. Simpiwe K.
Tshabalala of the Standard bank of South Africa In Johannesburg, South
Africa to let you receive your funds.

I have authorized him to release the fund to you as soon as you contact
him regarding this issue. At the moment, I am here in London for my
medical treatment. I do not know when I will be going back to South Africa
because after my medical treatment here in London I will be going to
Istanbul, Turkey. Please I will like you to accept this token with good
faith as this is from the bottom of my heart. Also comply with Mr. Simpiwe
k. Tshabalala so that he will let you receive your money without any delay,
contact him on the below e-mail address and call him also on the telephone
number below:

Name: Simpiwe Kenneth Tshabalala

E-mail: standardbkbank@africamail.com

Telephone: +27787829810

Address: Johannesburg Standard bank South Africa.

Do contact him immediately and receive your money urgently.

Thank you for putting in effort to assist me and keeping things very
confidential

despite not concluding the transfer with you. God bless you.

Sincerely,

Mama Graca Machel Mandela.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam