419 scam: "Mr. Martin Johnson"<mrmartiinjohnson50@gmail.com> From Mr. Martin Johnson Auditing Department NatWest Bank PO Box 10720, Strand,

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million pounds" (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)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Martin Johnson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrmarrtinjohnson50@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 6 Oct 2010 10:58:58 -0700
Subject: From Mr. Martin Johnson Auditing Department NatWest Bank PO Box 10720, Strand, London, WC2R 1AL

From Mr. Martin Johnson

Auditing Department NatWest Bank

PO Box 10720, Strand, London, WC2R 1AL

Dear Friend,

May I use this medium to inform you that an amount of 5.6 Million Pounds will be approved and transfer on your name as the beneficiary Money belonging to a deceased person who unfortunately lost his life in the plane crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 which crashed on January 31 2000, including his wife and only daughter.

Now our bank has been waiting for any of the relatives to come-up for the claim but nobody has done that, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin/Beneficiary to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued can be paid to you as his next of kin.

Please indicating your interest I will furnish you with more information about the transfer, Please reply with your private email and telephone number.

Best regards,
Mr. Martin Johnson.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam