419 scam: "Jon Wells"<e1elec@aol.com> 10-05-2012

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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:
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Jon Wells" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jjosephscott200@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 10 May 2012 19:14:01 -0400
Subject: 10-05-2012

HOW ARE YOU TODAY? HOPE ALL IS WELL WITH YOU AND FAMILY?, YOU MAY NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS MAIL CAME TO YOU. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING A MEETING FOR THE PASSED 7 MONTHS WHICH ENDED 4 DAYS AGO WITH THE SECRETARY TO THE UNITED NATIONS BAN KI-MOON. THIS EMAIL IS TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN SCAMMED IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD, THE UNITED NATIONS HAVE AGREED TO COMPENSATE THEM WITH THE SUM OF $800,000 USD EACH. THIS INCLUDES EVERY FOREIGN CONTRACTORS, INHERITANCE; LOTTERY THAT MAY HAVE NO RECEIVED THEIR CONTRACT SUM, AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD AN UNFINISHED TRANSACTION OR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESSES THAT FAILED DUE TO GOVERNMENT PROBLEMS OR SCAMMERS ETC.WE FOUND YOUR NAME IN OUR LIST AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE CONTACTING YOU, THIS HAVE BEEN AGREED UPON AND HAVE BEEN SIGNED.YOU ARE ADVISED TO CONTACT MR JOSEPH SCOTT OF OUR PAYING CENTER IN LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, AS HE IS OUR REPRESENTATIVE IN NIGERIA, CONTACT HIM IMMEDIATELY FOR YOUR CHEQUE / INTERNATIONAL BANK D RAFT OF $800,000 USD, THIS FUNDS

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam