419 scam: "Harmony Gold Exchange Ltd"<test@test.com> Prospective Partner Needed

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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:
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
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.
- +27866662685 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
- +27731195041 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Harmony Gold Exchange Ltd" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <harmonygold@yahoo.cn>
Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2012 06:34:59 -0800
Subject: Prospective Partner Needed

Harmony Gold Exchange Ltd
Republic of South Africa.
1841 Oliver Tambo International Airport Cargo Terminal
Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
TEL: +27731195041
FAX: +27 86 666 2685

Dear Prospective Partner:
Harmony Gold is an exchange trading in gold and precious metals, precious stones with head office in Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa, and branches all over Europe and Africa.
Our company supplies numerous customers in the United States with gold and precious stones for use in the jewelry industry and small gold design shops and lapidary shops.
However, some companies elect to pay us for our services by check drawn in United States Dollars. Because our company does not operate a bank account in the United States for tax and registration purposes we have been unable to collect on the check payments made to our company. Consequently, our accounts committee has agreed to retain the services of a professional in the United States to receive and clear all payments for a fee or commission.
The commission set for collection of checks issued by our clients in the United States for services rendered by our company is 15% (fifteen percent) of the total amount of the check. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PERCENTAGE IS RENEGOTIABLE BASED ON CERTAIN CONDITIONS WHICH MUST BE APPROVED BY OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.
To qualify as our United States based partner as proposed, you must provide us with the following for consideration and final selection:

1. MUST HAVE A VALID BANK ACCOUNT THAT IS VERIFIABLE.
2. PROVIDE US WITH A VALID GOVERNMENT ISSUED IDENTIFICATION
3. PROVIDE TWO CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBERS (CELL & HOME)
4. PROVIDE VERIABLE MAILING RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS (NOT POST OFFICE BOX)

If you feel you possess the above qualifications to earn our trust as a commissioned partner, please contact me immediately by email or fax immediately. We look forward to receiving your inquiry and thank you for considering our proposal.

Yours truly
Gary Steinberg
Chief Financial Officer/International Operations Manager
Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
TEL: +27731195041
FAX: +27 86 666 2685

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam