419 scam: "Nellie Johnson" <nelliejoh17@yahoo.co.jp> Hello Dear

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Nellie Johnson" <nelliejoh17@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2013 21:43:17 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: Hello Dear

Hi Dear,

Good Morning!

I know this mail will come to you as a surprise since we haven't known or
come across each other before. I am Nellie Johnson 19 years old female from
the Republic of Ivory Coast, West Africa. I lost my mother at the very
young age of 8, and being the only child, I have neither brothers nor
sisters. I was a student of fashion and design in a college before the ugly
incident that took the life of my father. And since then I've been passing
through a very difficult and painful period of my life.

With due respect and humility I write you this letter which I believe you
would be of great assistance to me. I want you to help me invest my
inherited fund ($5,500.000.00) Five Million Five Hundred Thousand US
Dollars into a profitable business in your Country as my.

My late father was into real estate business for many years before he was
poisoned on his way coming back from business trip. I will give you more
details once you reply my message. Please I will be glad if you can help me
invest in a profitable business in your country. If you agree, we shall
both share the total annual profit. I am thinking of investing into any of
these areas like (REAL ESTATE, 5 STAR HOTEL, TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATION,
and AGRICULTURE OR TEXTILE)

Please your suggestion and idea will be fine for me. I demand you treat
this very confidential. I will give you full details of the fund as soon as
I receive your reply.

Waiting for your soonest reply.

Nellie Johnson

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam