419 scam: "ATTORNEY MELVIN JOHNSON"<attornymelvin@hotmail.com> 160 MILLION INVESTMENT FOR YOU

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "million united state 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)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "monrovia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- barristermelvine.johnson1@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- on my private email for security purpose ( barristermelvine.johnson1@yahoo.com ) thanks and god bless regards attorney melvin johnson (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "ATTORNEY MELVIN JOHNSON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <attornymelvinego@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2016 04:25:45 +0300
Subject: 160 MILLION INVESTMENT FOR YOU

Attention: My Good Friend.

REF: ( ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS, 160,MILLION.)
FOR INVESTMENT.

I am Barrister Melvin Johnson based in Monrovia here in the capital of Liberia. This investment fund belongs to my clients wife, Mrs/ Senator Jewel Howard Taylor the wife of the Ex-President of my Country Liberia Mr. Charles Taylor, whom that has been detained by a diamond company here in Liberia for the Loan of 30 Million USD her husband the Ex-President Of Liberia Mr. Charles Taylor borrowed with her name while on seat. She asked me to get a reliable person to help her claim and invest this funds over there in your Country. This said 160 Million USD Investment fund is been deposited by Mr. Charles Taylor for investment allocation, we have a lot of money to invest wisely under your care if you succeed in retrieving this first payment. 20% of every total fund you claim has been assigned as per your share once you receive any of this fund from the Financial House and also invest it under your care. I Shall visit your country with the wife of the president Mrs/ Senator Jewel Howard Tay
lor for the investment. K

1. Your Full name & Age:-----
Contact Address:---------
Contact Telephone:-------------------
Occupation & Position:-------

Above all, I wish to assure you that the funds in question is not an act of Terrorist Funding, neither Money Laundering nor Drug-funding. Thus, the transfer will follow the normal protocol of funds transfer, backed up with all due papers so that you will not encounter any difficulties/problem with your Federal Monetary Control authorities. I await your urgent response. Make sure you contact me on my private email for security purpose ( barristermelvine.johnson1@yahoo.com )

Thanks and God bless
Regards
ATTORNEY MELVIN JOHNSON
attornymelvinego@hotmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

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