419 scam: "Capt.John Henderson"<info@schalcon.com> Dear Friend...

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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "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)
- "million 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)
- "% commission" (Beware of any scheme that involves depositing checks or money orders or receiving wire transfers in your bank account and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere, for a percentage of 5-15% of the total. Such offers are *always* fraudulent and you will be liable for the entire amount when the checks, money orders or wire transfers turn out to be fraudulent. Any money already forwarded comes out of *your* pocket then. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Capt.John Henderson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <capt.johnh@yahoo.com.tw>
Date: Thu, 4 Jul 2013 13:24:27 +0200
Subject: Dear Friend...

Dear sir/madam,

How are you today. Pardon me for contacting you in this means for a great business of this nature, I am not living in your country presently. At this time, I am stationed in Afghanistan, although I want to relocate to Europe in the near future, which is why I desire to buy the property from you.

Please, beside the issue of buying the property I also have another important matter, which I would like to discuss with you in what follows:

I am a USA Army working in Afghanistan on relief assignment by The International Committee: War in Afghanistan. On the other hand, I want to inform you that I have in my possession the sum of 16.2 million Dollars, which I got from crude oil deal in Afghanistan. I deposited this money with a Red Cross.

My sincere intention in writing you is to gain your kind permission and acceptance to receive the money on my behalf in your country and also make investment with it. For your permission and acceptance, I will give you 30% commission as well as buy the property from you.

If possible, may I request you to send me your information? Only if you are comfortable with this request. This is purely for the purpose of sending the money to you. The information needed is: Your full name, your private phone number, your full address.

I want to deposit the consignment box to the Red Cross service informing them that I are making contact to deliver the box to the owner because I don't want them to know that box belongs to me and contain such money in it, and It is under my power to approve to them where to deliver the box.

If I get the above information and your full acceptance, I will send the money over to your country, so that you will receive it for me before I can start coming over.

Write me as soon as you read this mail.

Sincerely,
Capt.John Henderson

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam