419 scam: Ed Grondel <oscarcheng@lrc.com.hk> I have been trying to contact you From Mr. Ed Grondel.

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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 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:
- "million united states 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)
- ",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)
- "chief auditor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
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.
- +27839740773 (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.
- gronndel@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: Ed Grondel <oscarcheng@lrc.com.hk>
Reply-To: "gronndel1@gmail.com" <gronndel1@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2015 14:09:53 +0800 (HKT)
Subject: I have been trying to contact you From Mr. Ed Grondel.

--
First National Bank of South Africa (FNB)
FOREIGN TRANSFER OPERATION UNIT
6th Floor - #1 First Place, Bank City
Cnr Simmonds and Pritchard Streets
Johannesburg Gauteng South Africa 2001
Ref: SARB/PED/FNB/101/2015
Telegrams: 12409
Mobile: +27-83-974-0773
Fax; +27-86-616-9684
Email; gronndel@gmail.com

Good day! My name is Mr. ED GRONDEL the Chief Auditor of First National Bank of South Africa (FNB), there is an account opened in this bank in 1980 and since 1990 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.

The owner of this account is Mr. Andreas Philip, a foreigner and a Miner at Kruger Gold Company. A Geologist by profession who died in 1990. No one knows about this account or anything concerning it, this account has no other beneficiary and the investigation proves to me as well that his company does not know anything about this account and the amount in the account at the moment is USD$50,000,000.00 (Fifty Million United States Dollars Only).The bank will remit half of the said sum which is USD$25,000,000.00 to your account and the remaining half of the funds will be transferred afterwards, I need a foreign partner/account to transfer the money overseas thus I am contacting you. Please kindly indicate and contact me on the above phone numbers to enable me inform you on next step to take.

I need your full co-operation to make this transaction work because the management is ready to approve this payment to any foreigner who has correct information on this account, which I will give you if you indicate your interest. I hope you can be able to handle such amount in strict confidence because this opportunity will never come again in our lives. I need truthful person in this business relationship because I don't want to make any mistake. I need your strong assurance and confidentiality.

At the conclusion of this business you will be given 50% of the total amount, 50% will be for me, and it will be use for investments in your country under your care and supervision. Finally, please if you are interested in this transaction send me the followings then call me on phone.

Your private mobile phone number, Your Residential Address/private phone, Yours Full Names.

Thanks and may the Almighty God bless you and your family.

Regards

Mr. Ed Grondel
(Chief Auditor First National Bank of South Africa (FNB)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam