419 scam: "KERRY"<mrmichealmm@hotmail.com> FROM US Secretary of State, MR.JOHN KERRY

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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:
- "cost of transfer" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "mtcn" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "accredited attorney" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (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.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- ibejoeassociates_chambers@superposta.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "KERRY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrjohnkerry@superposta.com>
Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2013 05:14:13 -0600
Subject: FROM US Secretary of State, MR.JOHN KERRY

U.S. Department of State
Diplomacy in Action
Office of the Secretary Of State
Mr.John Kerry

Attn; Beneficary

It is my pleasure to inform you that after the bomb blast on the United Nation office in Nigeria on the 26th of August 2011
by the faceless terror attack by BOKO HARAM in Nigeria, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has officially

written to my office to seek the support of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to assist in curbing the terror attack
by this terrorist in Nigeria and also protect the UN building in Abuja, Nigeria.

I wish to inform you that the U.S government has sent over 20 agents of the FBI to Nigeria and they are presently working
with the Nigerian State Security Service (SSS) and since the FBI arrived in Nigeria, the terrorist are on the run and it is
a sincere promise that they will be arrested and brought to book.

However, my office has considered the enormous financial crimes committed by some individuals in Nigeria through cyber-crime
and financial Mal-practices of honest people from US, Europe and Asia, Arabia citizens has been ripped off one way or the
other by some individual and government officials. I have personally spoken to the President of Nigeria (Dr.Jonathan Ebele

Goodluck) by the authority given to me by President Barrack Obama, to make sure that all unpaid funds belonging to foreign
beneficiaries must be paid without further stress or extortion of funds in any manner.

It is my pleasure to inform you that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has signed a
memorandum to pay all foreign beneficiaries their funds in this quarter base on the present economic growth of Nigeria and
we noticed you have an outstanding payment of Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$10.5m). However,

the memorandum signed by president Jonathan states that all foreign payment will be paid through government approved
commercial bank in Nigeria.

Therefore, the paying bank in charge of your payment is KEYSTONE BANK LIMITED, NIG. It is imperative that you should know
that the Central Bank of Nigeria is the apex bank and it is the bank to the Federal Government treasury and bankers bank, so

it is unlawful for the CBN to be in-charge of your payment, Therefore, you are advised to stop further communication with
any person or offices regarding your payment as we are absolutely in control.

In view of this positive development, your funds will be released within 72banking hours immediately you comply with the
instructions as we agreed with the Federal government of Nigeria. You are not required to pay any cost of transfer or
procure further documents as we have signed all released documents in your favour. Therefore, the only obligation required

of you by the laws of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the financial monetary policy of the Supreme Court, state that
all foreign beneficiary must officially obtain the irrevocable LEGAL STAY OF PROCEED from the Supreme Court of Nigeria, as a
means to justify the legitimacy, transparency and clean bill of funds from Nigeria so that by the time your funds are paid

into your account, no authority will question the funds as it has been legally certified
free from all financial Mal-practices.

Therefore, you are hereby required to pay only $275usd through western union money transfer to the only accredited attorney
approved by my office in Nigeria for the procurement of the said document with immediate effect. It is also required of you
to send your receiving bank details to the same lawyer whose information is giving below as he will be signing all legal
documents on your behalf without any professional charges as the Federal government has paid such charges to the lawyer
involved.

Kindly send your personal and receiving bank account details such as below to the lawyer's email address in bracket
immediately

Contact Person Barrister IBE JOE
Email id; ibejoeassociates_chambers@superposta.com

Full name:
Home Address:
Private telephone:
Email address:

Bank name:
Bank address:
Routing number:
ABA number:
Swift Code:
Account name:

Finally, you are also immediately required to send the $275usd through western union money transfer to the lawyer with the

payment information below.

Receiver’s information:

Name: IBE JOE
Address: Lagos, Nigeria
Test question:IBE
Answer: JOE
Amount: $275usd
Mtcn............

Immediately you send the money, urgently send the money tracking control number (MTCN) and your bank details to the lawyer's
email address and notify me via my personal email address.

Thank you for your anticipated co-operation and your swift compliance will expedite action in your payment because as soon
you comply, your account shall be credited with the $10.5m as promised. Please you must not fail as this is your only
opportunity to get your long overdue funds into your account. Note: follow all detailed instructions for your best interest.

Yours faithfully,

Mr.John Kerry.
US Secretary of State.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam