419 scam: "Mr. Ed Grondel" <edgrondel@usa.com> Read carefully and get back to me

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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 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:
- ",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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "is 100% risk free" (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 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.
- +27837428858 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
- +27862760989 (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.
- edgrondel@workmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Ed Grondel" <edgrondel@usa.com>
Reply-To: ed_grondel@workmail.com
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 2010 21:35:54 +0200 (SAST)
Subject: Read carefully and get back to me

From: Mr.Ed Grondel
Johannesburg South Africa
Fax: +27862760989
Mobile: +27837428858
Email: edgrondel@workmail.com

Attention: Good Friend,

I am Mr. Ed Grondel the chief accountant of First National Bank of South
Africa (FNB) a division of FirstRand Bank limited South Africa I am making
this contact with you based on the need for an individual/company who is
willing to assist me with a solution to a money transfer.

First and foremost, I apologized using this medium to reach you for a
transaction/business of this magnitude, but this is due to Confidentiality
and prompt access reposed on this medium. In unfolding this proposal, I
want to count on you, as a respected and honest person to handle this
transaction with sincerity, trust and confidentiality. I have decided to
seek a confidential co-operation with you in the execution of the deal
described hereunder for the benefit of all parties and hope you will keep
it as a top secret because of the nature of this transaction.

There is an account opened in this bank in 1997 and till 2003 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 for nothing. The owner of this account is MR.SHEU YUANG
DONG, a foreigner, and a miner at Kruger Gold Company, a Geologist by
profession and he died since February 16, 1998. No other person knows this
account or anything concerning it, the account has no other beneficiary
and my investigation proved to me as well that this company does not know
anything about this account and the money involved is USD$25,000,000.00
(Twenty Five Million United Dollars Only).

I want us to first transfer USD$10 Million from this money into your safe
overseas account before the rest and this is to avoid any breach of law to
both Countries. I am seeking your assistance as a foreigner, since as
civil servant I am not allowed to operate foreign accounts. Should you be
willing to assist in this transaction your share as compensation will be
USD$10, 000,000.00 (40%), while I will receive USD$15, 000.000.00 (60%).

The business is completely safe and secure, provided you treat it with
utmost confidentiality. It does not matter also your area of
specialization is not a hindrance to the successful execution of this
transaction. I have reposed confidence in you and hope that you will not
disappoint me. And this is 100% risk free. Kindly notify me by sending
your secured mobile phone and fax numbers for further details upon your
acceptance of this proposal. You can as well give me a call at my mobile
number any time: +27-83-742-8858

Thanks in anticipation of your co-operation.

Regards,

From: Mr.Ed Grondel
Johannesburg South Africa
Fax: +27862760989
Mobile: +27837428858
Email: edgrondel@workmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam