419 scam: "Urs Morgenthaler"<cenci@unimol.it> Partnership Request

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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.
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:
- "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "with your full names" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "necessary legal documents" (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. )
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
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.
- morgenthalerurs55@kimo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Urs Morgenthaler" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <morgenthalerurs55@kimo.com>
Date: Sun, 9 May 2010 07:05:32 +0100
Subject: Partnership Request

Dear Intending Partner,

I sincerely hope that this letter will not come to you
as a surprise or an embarrassment since we neither
know each other before nor have had any previous
correspondence. Let me start by introducing myself,
I am Mr. Urs Morgenthaler, Chief Financial Officer
and Managing Director of the operations of
Arab Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. I have a secured
business proposal for you;

Before the U.S and Iraqi war, our client,
General Hassan Umara, who was with the
Iraqi forces and also a business man, made
a numbered fixed deposit for 18 calendar
months, with a value of US$85,000,000.00 in
my branch. Upon maturity, several notices was
sent to him. Again after the war another notification
was sent and still no response came from him. We
later found out that General Hassan Umara and his
family had been killed during the war in a bomb blast
that hit their home. After further investigation it was
also discovered that General Hassan Umara did not
declare any next of kin in his official documentations
including the paper work of his bank deposit. And he
also confided in me the last time he was at my office
that no one knew of his deposit in my bank.
So, US$85,000,000.00 is still lying in my bank
and no one will ever come forward to claim it.
What bothers me most is that according to the
laws of my country at the expiration of Seven (7) years,
the funds will revert to the ownership of the Switzerland
Government if nobody comes forward to claim the funds.

Against this backdrop, my suggestion to you is that
I will like you as a foreigner to stand as the next of
kin to Gen. Hassan Umara so that you will be able
to receive his funds.

WHAT IS TO BE DONE:

I want you to know that I have had everything planned
out so that we shall come out successful. I have
contacted a will & probate attorney that will prepare
the necessary legal documents that will back you up
as the next of kin to Gen. Hassan Umara, all that is
required from you at this stage is for you to provide me
with your Full Names and Address so that the attorney
can commence his job. After you have been made the
next of kin, the attorney will also file in for claims on
your behalf and secure the necessary approval and
letter of probate in your favor for the move of the
funds to an account that will be provided by you.

There is no risk involved at all in the matter as we
are going to adopt a legalized method and the
attorney will prepare all necessary legal documents.
Please endeavor to observe utmost discretion in
all matters concerning this issue. Once the funds
have been transferred to your nominated bank
account, we shall share in the ratio of 60% for me
and 40% for you. Should you be interested, please
send me the following information below:

Full Names
Current Residential Address
Country of Origin

I prefer you reach me only on my PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS
below and finally after that, I shall provide you with more
details of this transaction. Your earliest response to this
letter will be highly appreciated.

Email: morgenthalerurs55@kimo.com

Kind Regards,
Mr. Urs Morgenthaler.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam