419 scam: "Citizen John"<df20132012@gmail.com> Now in USA

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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:
- "clearance fee" (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. )
- "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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- private.operations@yahoo.com.ph (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Citizen John" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <private.operations@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2013 13:33:43 -0700
Subject: Now in USA

Diplomatic agent
Citizen John.
Old Airport Road,
Cloghran, Dublin Airport
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Dear Client ,

I am Diplomatic Agent, Citizen John, working with the United Nations International Monetary Funds Dublin, Ireland, I am contacting you here at San Diego International Airport (SAN), San Diego, CA, This is in respect of (2) two consignment boxes on your name. I am writing to inform you about my arrival here at sandiego airport just an hour now,i have being assigned by the Un Presidency to make this delivery to you as compensation for your lost of your contract inheritance fund through the African impostors.

With the help of British Government, West Africa ECOWAS Presidency released these boxes for delivery to their respective beneficiaries, upon investigations conducted, You are confirmed amoung the listed Beneficiaries, it was in this regard i was appointed to make delivery of your boxes to you after it was approved. I am contacting you now because you have to pick me up, at your airport to your destination to complete my delivery to you.

I have presented the delivery documents to the custom here in charge and I handed all documens to them and they are very much pleased with the paper???s the only thing that is still keeping me here is to pay up the clearance fees, I try to reason with them and they stated that delivery clearing will cost us just few hundred dollars only. The custom also stated that the reciept will enable me get to your house successfully without any interference or Police problem.
Re-Confirm details as listed below.
1. Full Name:
2. Destination House Address:
3. Closest Airport to your destination:
4. Copy of your Drivers /passport for your identification:
5. Your direct Mobile Phone Number:

Upon your response I will attached a copy of my diplomatic passport for identification. I await your immediate response within few hours via this email (private.operations@yahoo.com.ph)

Regards,
Diplomat Citizen John
Un diplomatics.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam