419 scam: "Barrister. Johnson smith" <johnson.smith054@gmail.com> GOOD DAY

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- johnson.smith054@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barrister. Johnson smith" <johnson.smith054@gmail.com>
Reply-To: <johnson.smith054@live.com>
Date: Wed, 11 May 2011 14:28:13 -0300
Subject: GOOD DAY

--
Dear Friend,

I am Barrister. Johnson smith(ESQ),Attorney at law and the Personal lawyer
to Engineer a

foreigner who used to work with Shell International Republic of Togo ,
Here in after shall

be referred to as my client.

As it may interest you to know,I got Your contact over the internet as i
was searching for

the contact of my late clients relation. I decided to contact you in order
to champion such

a business magnitude with out any problem.On the 21st of April 2005,my
client,his wife and

their two children were involved in a car accident along Kara-Sokode
expressway while

arriving from a Holiday to Lome. All occupants of the vehicle
unfortunately lost their

lives.

Since then, I have made several inquiries to their embassy to locate any
of their extended

relatives and this has also proved unsuccessful. I am contacting you to
assist in

repatriating the fund valued at US$15.5m,(fifteen million and five hundred
thousand United

States Dollars),left behind by my client before it gets confiscated or
declared

unserviceable by the bank where this huge amount were deposited.

The said Bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have
his account

confiscated within the next twenty one official working days. Since I have
been unsuccessful

in locating the relatives for over 2 years now, I seek your consent to
present as the next

of kin to the deceased since you have the same last name with my late
client, so that the

proceeds of this account can be paid to you.

Therefore, I will not fail to inform you that this transaction is 100%
risk free. On smooth

conclusion of this transaction, you will be entitled to 40% of the total
sum as

gratification, while 10% will be set aside to take care of expenses that
may arise during

the time of transfer and also telephone bills,while 50% will be for me.
All I require from

you is your honest co-operation to enable us see this transaction through.
I guarantee that

this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you
from any breach of

the law.

Upon your acceptance to this proposal,for the confidentiality of this
business I expect your

urgent response indicating your full interest in this great business
transaction to our both

mutual trust.
please,get back to me with your complete data such as your full
name, address,telephone number, occupation, age, sex, and a copy of your
international

passport or drivers licence,and also a copy of your ID card too if
interested, as i shall
provide to you all necessary claim documents of this fund.
Your telephone and fax number will be need for our easy
communication.please this is My Email.
(johnson.smith054@gmail.com)
Best Regards,
Barrister.Johnson smith(ESQ)
Email .(johnson.smith054@gmail.com)
GET BACK FOR MORE INFORMATION

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam