419 scam: "Mr. Tony Moore"<tedbirndorf@aol.com> INVESTMENT 2012

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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:
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
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.
- +27786390698 (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.
- mrtony_moore@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Tony Moore" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrtony_moore@yahoo.es>
Date: Mon, 7 May 2012 22:20:54 -0700
Subject: INVESTMENT 2012

MR TONY MOORE
155 5th street sandton
Johannesburg South Africa
Tel: +27-78-639-0698
Email: mrtony_moore@yahoo.com
Date: 7 of May, 2012

Good Day

i am MR TONY MOORE from a well knowing SECURITY COMPANY in Johannesburg south Africa. A company based in VIP Security and investors assets and management protection in south Africa. As a director of warehouse where local and foreign consignment/boxes are deposited for safe keep, since last year I have been investigating one foreign consignment deposited here without next of kin, last week I find out that the owner of the consignment died 4 year ago, this consignment was
deposited as a family treasure but what make me to look into this consignment is because there is no name mentioned as the next of kin, then when I secretly check the consignment and I find out that the consignment is containing US$13.5 Million dollars as mentioned in the clearance certificate that I find inside the box with the cash.

Now i have concluded a smooth arrangement to move this money out of this company but i cannot do it completely without presenting a foreigner as the next of kin/business partner of the dead depositor, on clearance certificate the depositor mentioned that the money in question belong to he’s business partner oversea, so the only person in position to claim this money is somebody from outside south Africa that I can present to the company as the partner of the former owner, i am ready to share this money with you 60/40 that is 40% for you and 60% for me because I will arrange all the necessary documents for the smooth release this consignment to you . Please get back to me as soon as possible with the below details so that i can give you more details, we can get this money out to your account within 5 days, please forward the below information.

Full Name:
Full Address:
Telephone Number:
Mobile Number:
Age:
Occupation:
Your Email:
Country of Origin:
Sex:

Kindly reply with above details.
Thanks and God bless you
MR TONY MOORE

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam