419 scam: "Mr. Michael Luthuli"<sisululuthuli@gmail.com> CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "luthulimichael@hotmail.co.za" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- +27724274321 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
- +27867689529 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Michael Luthuli" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <luthulimichael@hotmail.co.za>
Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 13:43:47 +0200
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL

Dear Sir/Ma,
I apologize to have encroached into your privacy in this manner; I am Dr. Michael Luthuli the Chairman Debt Reconciliation Committee (DRC), South Africa Reserve Bank. I write you this message because i urgently need your assistance to transfer the over-invoiced contract, funds of $47,250,000.00 (forty seven million, Two hundred and Fifty thousand United States dollars), into your oversea foreign bank accounts. Kindly let me know if you are interested in this business proposal, all necessary clarification in regards to the fund transfer will be sent to you immediately i receive your response. Kindly reply me stating your interest, and I shall furnish you with the details and necessary procedure with which to transfer the fund to your receiving bank account. You can call or contact me via my private email box for further Communication as time is of great importance (luthulimichael@hotmail.co.za).
Waiting for your reply soon.
Yours Sincerely
Mr. Michael Luthuli
Chairman Debt Reconciliation Committee
Tel/Fax: +27 72 427 4321
+27 86 768 9529.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam