419 scam: "st.johncatholicchurch" <st.johncatholicchurch00@gmail.com> ST.JOHN CATHOLIC CHURCH

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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:
- "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. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.

Fraud email example:

From: "st.johncatholicchurch" <st.johncatholicchurch00@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 11:45:44 +0200
Subject: ST.JOHN CATHOLIC CHURCH

ST.JOHN CATHOLIC CHURCH

This message is from St.John Catholic Church Ouagadougou,Burkina
Faso,I am writing on behalf of Mr Lucien Marie NoÃ«l Bembamba to inform
you that your outstanding payment of the sum of $850,000,00(Eight
Hundred and fifty thousand dollars)mean't to be transfered to you
since 2 years ago which was not carried out has been instructed for
immediate release by
the Ministere de l'economie et des finances (M.E.F)Government of Burkina Faso.

This fund was deposited to my care by one of my church member who is
Ministere de l'economie et des finance Mr.Lucien Marie NoÃ«l Bembamba
before he travelled to France and he directed me to help him get the
fund to you after several attempt to release the fund to you by
diplomatic transfer,western union money transfer and atm card which
failed.

Every arrangement has been concluded to release the fund to you
without any further hitches,I need your residential
address,telephone/mobile number and a copy of your ID card for proper
documentation and to enable me make arrangement for the delivery with
the courier company or by bank transfer.

God Bless you!
Rev.Father Ziniare Kibare Catholic Priest
St.John Catholic Church Ouagadougou,Burkina Faso.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam