419 scam: John Decker <mr.andrew-wolley@att.net> From the Desk of John Decker

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "abuja" (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.
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.
- +2348055720888 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: John Decker <mr.andrew-wolley@att.net>
Reply-To: john_decker2010@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:41:44 -0800 (PST)
Subject: From the Desk of John Decker

>From the Desk of John Decker
103 Walter Carrington road,
Garki Abuja (F.C.T.)
Federal Ministry of Finance
Tel: 234-8055720888
Fax: 234-7228767
Dear Sir,
My name is John Decker,I work with the Federal Ministry of Finance in Nigeria this 2010, and I have seen that several times people tried to divert your funds into their own personal account I mean those you call your partner in Nigeria and London.Now I write to you in respect of the amount which I have been able to send to you through the Federal Government Diplomat who has arrived in EUROPE, now I want you to know that the diplomat would deliver the funds which I have package as a diplomatic compensation to you and the amount in the consignment is $19,000.000.00 (Nintheen MILLION U.S. Dollars Only).

To this end, I did not disclose the content to the diplomat that the box contain money but I told him that it is your compensation from the Government House here in Nigeria and from our affiliate in London and so all, I want you to know that this funds would help your financial status as I have seen in record in London and here in Nigeria that you have spent a lot trying to receive these funds. I am not demanding so much from you but Just 10% of the funds and after this I shall proceed in helping you to collect the total amount.I want you to give me a call immediately you receive this fax message so that I will give you the contact information of the diplomat who has arrived in (EUROPE) for the past two days and have been waiting to get your information so that he can proceed with the delivery to your doorstep.

Yours Sincerely,
John Decker
For Federal Ministry of Finance.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam