419 scam: "Mr. James Smith" <mr.jamessmith01@hotmail.com> GOOD DAY...REPLY ASAP

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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)
- "i will like you to " (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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. James Smith" <mr.jamessmith01@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: mr.jamessmith001@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2012 11:02:46 -0500
Subject: GOOD DAY...REPLY ASAP

From the Desk of:
Mr. James Smith

How are you today? My name is Mr. James Smith the store manager of
Shurgard Self-Storage warehouse in London this is where valuables
consignments boxes are lodged for safety in London. I wish to seek your
confidentiality in this deal, i need your assistance and trust for the
transfer of a consignment funds of US$25M to you. this consignment funds
is for a foreign investor that has remained dormant for years now in this
storage home. on my research I discovered that the consignment fund holder
Mr. John Mohawk died on the 10th of December 2006 and did not make any
WILL on the depository. You are free to read Mr. John Mohawk's Obituary.

http://artvoice.com/issues/v5n51/saying_oh

This is a deal that must keep as a top secret, I have finalize every
arrangement on how to get this business finalize successfully in our
favor. the consignment funds can only be approved to you, If you will
stand as next of kin to the consignment fund holder Mr. John Mohawk, it
will be shared 50% for me and 50% for you, as this is a TWO-man business
deal transaction.

I shall provide you with more details and relevant documents that will
help us finalize this transaction successfully without any hitches. I need
your assistance and co-operation to this reality as I have done my
Home-work and fine tune the best way to create you as the beneficiary of
the consignment funds. My position as the store manager will be used to
advance this deal.

If you are interested in handling this deal with me i will like you to
provide immediately your full Names and Address, Date of Birth,
Occupation, Tel & Fax Numbers, so that i can proceed with my confidence
Attorney to prepare the necessary documents and affidavit which will put
you in place as the next of kin to the fund holder Mr. John Mohawk for the
claim.

I will appreciate your early reply for commencement of business. Contact
me for acknowledgment by E-mail and whereby you are not interested; please
indicate in your reply so that I can seek for the assistance of someone
else.

If this proposal is acceptable by you, I expect that you will not take
undue advantage of the trust I have bestowed in you.

Thanks with great regards.
Mr. James Smith

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam