419 scam: "Mr.Smith Johnson"<mrsmithj0@gmail.com.> YOUR ASSISTANCE !

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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:
- "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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Smith Johnson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsmithj019@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2012 16:49:02 +0100
Subject: YOUR ASSISTANCE !

Attention:-

I Smith and my sister Jennifer may wish to know if we can entrust in you in helping us to receive the $5.5m USD (Five Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) that our parents had with a Financial Institution in United Kingdom before their untimely death by Former president of Ivory Coast Laurent Gbagbo Soldiers in (West Africa).

Our Father was a known as a reputable business man and was assassinated alongside with my mother Felicia.But we are in assylum to United Kingdom through Africa Union (AU).We want you to help us receive our money and keep it safe in an account, I and Jennifer will start applying for our transcript in the school so that we can come over to your country and conclude our Education.

If this is possible for you .Can you assure us of the under listed, when you receive this money as our Beneficiary, so as to enable us further our Education in your country.

1, Securing apartment for I and Jennifer,which we shall pay for.

2, Helping us to investing on a profitable business and as well guiding the affairs as the Director.

3, Finally, helping us for a better school to further our Education because right now I am a finalist of Business Management while Jennifer herself is studying Pharmacy in the University as well.

Thanks in hoping for your helpful suggestion & your kind response.

Yours Sincerely,

Smith & Jennifer Johnson

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam