419 scam: "Mr. John Kerry Secretary-General." <arimmgggg@gmail.com> Attention, Esteemed,

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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:
- "money gram" (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. )
- ",000,000" (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)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. John Kerry Secretary-General." <arimmgggg@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "Mr. John Kerry Secretary-General." <younghorn38@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2015 16:17:54 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attention, Esteemed,

Attention, Esteemed/

How are you today? Hope all is well with you and family? You may not understand why this mail came to you. We were having a meeting for the passed 3 weeks which ended today, with the United States of America Attorney General, Loretta Lynch. and Mrs. Michelle Obama, This email is to inform you regarding your expected fund $20,000,000,00,which was under Mrs. Michelle Obama Custody, in the representative part of scammers compensation,while the White House Washington DC has agreed to paid all the people their name listed, included you, through Mr.Young Horn as Mrs. Michelle Obama representative, in Benin Republic.

This includes every foreign contractors that may have not received their contract sum, and people that have had an unfinished transaction or international businesses that failed due to Government problems etc.We found their names and email in our list and that is why we are contacting you, this have been agreed upon and have been

signed, for more clarification, according to the report we received hereby today, from Mr.Young Horn,concerned below 3 documents Approval Letter, Federal High Court Funds Release Order, Insurance Certificate,needed to signed, in order to completed access of your $20,000,000,00. You are advised to contact Mr.Young Horn,for Mrs. Michelle Obama representative paying center in Benin Republic, and paid him the sum of is $250 dollars immediately for then to use it signed your 3 documents, due for security purpose,however,we also confirmed your full details information as listed under the documents, Therefore, you should send him the charge sum of $250 dollars, through Money Gram, directly to Benin Republic, in West Africa.

Thanks and God bless you and your family. Hoping to hear from you as soon as you send them the $250 dollars. Making the world a better place.

Regards,
Mr. John Kerry Secretary-General.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam