This is another example of the relatively recent trend toward two-part scam messages. The basic brief email text tries to hook you into reading the long attachment which contains complex details.
It’s a bit surprising that these messages work, since many people have learned not to open unfamiliar attachments. In this case it’s not that the attachment is unsafe in the usual sense (contains a computer virus, for example). The attachment is just a longer explanation of the scam: another abandoned account left behind by a plane crash victim (the ubiquitous Andreas Schranner).
from: Dr.MIKE Tanta tantadr.mike43@yahoo.co.nz
reply-to: drmiketanta1922@gala.net
date: Fri, Oct 9, 2009 at 9:21 AM
subject: ABSA BANK TRANSFER NEXT OF KIN TO THE FAMILYATTN: SIR/ MADAM
PLEASE FIND THE MESSAGE IN ATTACH FILE
THANKS WHILE I WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU SOONIT IS 100% RISK FREE
GOD BLESS YOU
Regards,
DR. MIKE TANTAEMAIL: drmiketanta1922@gala.net
Private Mobile+27 837-704-945
And the attachment reads:
Address: #18 Commissioner Street.
Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa.
Email: drmiketanta1922@gala.net
Phone:+ 27 837-704-945I am DR. MIKE TANTA, I’m requesting for a reliable and trusted partner for a highly important and lucrative venture investment, I came across your contact as a reliable partner for this venture. I DR. MIKE TANTA, In charge of Credit and Foreign bills of my Bank, AMALGAMATED BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA (ABSA).
I am writing in respect of a foreign customer of my bank whose name is Mr. Andreas Schranner a citizen of Germany who perished in a plane crash [Concorde Air Flight AF4590] with the whole passengers aboard on 31 July2000. And for your perusal you can view this web site:
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm
Since the demise of this our customer, I personally has watched with keen interest to see the next of kin but all has proved abortive as no one has come to claim his funds of US$25.5M (Twenty Five Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) which has been with my branch for a very long time. On this note, I decided to seek for whom his name shall be used as the Next of Kin as no one has come up to be the next of kin. And the banking ethics here does not allow such money to stay more than nine years, because the money will be recalled to the bank treasury as unclaimed after this period.
In view of this, I got your contact through a trade journal. And I have agreed to give you 30% of the total if you can handle this transaction in ultimate sincerity and secrecy. Upon the receipt of your response, I will send you by fax or e-mail the application, bank’s fax number and the next step to take. I will not fail to bring to your notice that this business is risk free and that you should not entertain any fear as all modalities for fund transfer can be finalized within five working days, after you apply to the bank as a relation to the deceased. Please reply me true this my private mail for security reason: drmiketanta1922@gala.net
Please treat this business with utmost confidentiality and send me the Following:
(1) Full names:
(2) Private phone number:
(3) Current residential address:
(4) Occupation:
(5) Age and Sex:I look forward to your earliest response
Regards and thanks,
DR. . MIKE TANTA Private Mobile+27 837-704-945
Here at the Scam Hunter website (scamhunter.org) we document scam messages like the one above in order to help people stay safe from online frauds and scams.
Scammers depend on public ignorance to keep their scams alive. Please share our scam alerts with your friends, family, and coworkers today.
