The 419 scam goes South African

[Dave A]

A scam that has been around for ages, originally associated with Nigeria and known as the 419 scam, has developed a South African flavour.

I received this today:

> Subject: RE:Partnership Investment
>
>
>> Mr George Phillips
>> DEPARTMENT OF MINERALS AND ENERGY,
>> PRETORIA , SOUTH
>> AFRICA.
>> Private fax N0:+27 –865-172839.
>>
>> ATTN: SIR / MADAM
>>
>> CONFIDENTIAL & URGENT
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> It is my great pleasure to write you this letter on behalf of my
>> colleagues.
>> Your information was given to me by a member of the South African Export
>> Promotion Council (SAEPC) who was with the
>> Government delegation on a trip to your country for a bilateral
>> conference talk to encourage foreign investors.
>> I have decided to seek a confidential co-operation with you in the
>> execution of the deal hereunder for the benefit of all parties and
>> hope you will keep it confidential because of the nature of this
>> business.
>>
>> Within the Department of Minerals & Energy where I work as a Director of
>> Audit and Project Implementation and with the co-operation
>> of two other top officials, we have in our possession an overdue payment
>> in US funds.
>> The said funds represent certain percentage of the total contract value
>> executed on behalf of my Department by a foreign contracting
>> firm, which we the officials over-invoiced to the amount of
>> £26.500,000.00 (Twenty-Six
>> Million Five Hundred Thousand British Pounds Sterling.). Though the
>> actual contract cost has been paid to the original contractor,
>> leaving the excess balance unclaimed.
>>
>> Since the present elected Government is determined to pay foreign
>> contractors all debts owed, so as to maintain good relationship
>> with foreign governments and non-government agencies, we included our
>> bills for approvals with the Department of Finance and the
>> South Africa Reserve Bank (SARB).
>> We are seeking your assistance to front as beneficiary of the unclaimed
>> funds, since we are not allowed to operate foreign accounts.
>>
>> Details and change of beneficiary information upon application for claim
>> to reflect payment and approvals will be secured on behalf of
>> you/your Company. I have the authority of my partners involved to propose
>> that should you be willing to assist us in this transaction
>> your share as compensation will be £6.625m (Twenty-five percent), while
>> my colleagues and I receive £17.225m (Sixty-five percent) and the balance
>> of £2.650m (Ten percent) for taxation and miscellaneous
>> expenses incurred.
>>
>> The business is completely safe and secure, provided you treat it with
>> utmost confidentiality. It does not matter whether you/your
>> Company does contract projects, as a transfer of powers will be secured
>> in favour of you/your Company.
>>
>> Also, your area of specialization is not a hindrance to the successful
>> execution of this transaction.
>> I have reposed my confidence in you and hope that you will not disappoint
>> us.
>>
>> Thanks for your co-operation.
>> Regards,
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Dr Jacob oti.
>>
>> N.B
>> Please email your confidential Telephone and Fax number to enable me
>> contact
>> you for further clarifications.

[Sieg]

Dave: I think its actually referred to as a "419 scam". See http://home.rica.net/alphae/419coal/

Sieg

[Sieg]

This is an e mail sent to my yahoo! e mail address:

FROM THE DESK OF MR THEMBA LANGA
AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING UNIT DEPT.
AMALGAMATED BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA,
(ABSA) JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA.
Tel: +27 738-520-145 Fax: + 27 11 507 5740

ATTN SIR/MADAM,


IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS PROPOSAL WILL COME TO YOU AS A SUPRISE.
THIS IS BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT MET BEFORE BUT I AM INSPIRED TO SEND YOU THIS
EMAIL BY THE HUGE FUND TRASFER OPPORTUNITY THAT WILL BE OF MUTUAL BENEFIT TO
THE TWO OF US.
I AM MR THEMBA LANGA MANAGER, BILLS AND EXCHANGE AT THE FOREIGN REMITTANCE
DEPARTMENT OF AMALGAMATED BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA.
I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND COOPERATION TO CARRY
OUT THIS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY IN MY DEPARTMENT WE DISCOVERED AN ABANDONED
SUM OF $27,(M) TWENTY SEVEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY IN AN ACCOUNT
THAT BELONGS TO ONE OF OUR FOREIGN CUSTOMERS ENGR STEVE MOORE WHO DIED ALONG
WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY OF A WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN IN PARIS PLANE CRASH ON 25
JULY 2004. UNFORTUNATELY THEY ALL LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE ACCIDENT.

HEARD OF HIS DEATH,WE HAVE BEEN EXPECTING HIS NEXT-OF-KIN TO COME OVER AND
PUT CLAIMS FOR HIS MONEY AS THE HEIR, BECAUSE WE CANNOT RELEASE THE FUND
FROM HIS ACCOUNT UNLESSSOMEONE APPLIES FOR CLAIM AS THE NEXT-OF-KIN TO THE
DECEASED AS INDICATED IN OUR BANKING GUIDELINES. UNFORTUNATELY, NEITHER
THEIR FAMILY MEMBER NOR DISTANT RELATIVE HAS EVER APPEARED TO CLAIM THE SAID
FUND.
UPON THIS DISCOVERY, I HAVE DECIDED TO MAKE BUSINESS WITH YOU AND RELEASE
THE TOTAL AMOUNT INTO YOUR ACCOUNT AS THE HEIR OF THE FUND SINCE NO ONE CAME
FOR IT OR DISCOVERED THE MAINTAINED ACCOUNT WITH OUR BANK, OTHERWISE THE
FUND WILL BE RETURNED TO THE BANKS TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED FUND.

I HAVE AGREED THAT OUR RATIO OF SHARING WILL BE AS STATED THUS; 30 % FOR YOU
AS FOREIGN PARTNER,60 % FOR ME AND 10 % FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF ALL LOCAL AND
FOREIGN EXPENCES INCURRED BY YOU AND ME DURING THE COURSE OF THIS BUSINESS.
UPON THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THIS TRANSFER, I WILL COME TO YOUR COUNTRY
AND MIND MY SHARE. IT IS FROM THE 60 %I INTEND TO IMPORT AGRICULTURAL
MACHINERIES INTO MY COUNTRYAS A WAY OF RECYCLING THE FUND.
TO COMMENCE THIS TRANSACTION,I REQUIRE YOU TO IMMEDIATELY INDICATE YOUR
INTEREST BY A RETURN E-MAIL AND ENCLOSE YOUR PRIVATE CONTACT TELEPHONE
NUMBER, FAX NUMBER, FULL NAME,ADDRESS AND YOUR DESIGNATED BANK COORDINATES
TO ENABLE ME FILE LETTER OF CLAIM TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS FOR
NECESSARY APPROVALS BEFORE THE TRANSFER CAN BE MADE.

NOTE ; THIS TRANSACTION MUST BE KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL BECAUSE OF ITS
NATURE. I LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE. GET BACK TO ME ON
THIS EMAILADDRESSES ,thembalanga@katamail.com
PLEASE YOUR CONFIDENTIALITY IS HIGLY REQUIRED AS THIS TRANSACTION NEEDS AN
UTMOST CONFIDENTIALITY.
REGARDS,
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MR. THEMBA LANGA
AMALGAMATED BANK.


Is the Amalgamated Bank not the give away? Who is SA refers to ABSA as Amalgamated Bank? Does anyone still remember United, Allied, Trust and Volkak (sic!) Banks?


Sieg

[duncan drennan]

Why is it always 27 million? Maybe it is a bit like sharks, it is ALWAYS a six metre great white

[Dave A]

Dave: I think its actually referred to as a "419 scam".

Thanks Sieg. I stand corrected. It seems I inflated the numbers although it seems I am not alone.

I did Google for "917 scam" before I made the post (my rusty memory scratch attempt) and the top results confirmed it as the Nigerian scam, so in a rush, off I went. I know it's numbered after the number of the piece of legislation that is supposed to outlaw the practice in Nigeria.

/drill into head: "419 scam 419 scam"

[Yvonne]

Our company received one of these e-mails today. Supposedly from the Bank of Scotland.
At one time there was an S.A.P. e-mail address which we were asked to forward these on to.
Anyone know of the address?

Thanks
Yvonne Symons