419 scam: "John Silver" <johnsilver347@gmail.com> Urgent Response Needed...

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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:
- "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)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- johnsilver347@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "John Silver" <johnsilver347@gmail.com>
Reply-To: johnsilver347@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2015 15:40:08 +0000
Subject: Urgent Response Needed...

Hi, =

=

I am John Silver, A Private Investment Manager to the late Mr. Daniel, her=
einafter referred to as my client' who worked as an independent oil magnate=
in my country and died in a car crash with his immediate family on the 4th=
of Oct., 2007. =

=

Since the death of my client in Oct., 2007, I have written several letters=
to the embassy with intent to locate any of his extended relatives whom sh=
all be claimants/beneficiaries of his abandoned personal estate and all suc=
h efforts have been to no avail. =

=

More so, I have received official letters in the last few weeks suggesting=
a likely proceeding for confiscation of his abandoned personal assets in l=
ine with existing laws by the bank in which my client deposited the sum of =
Thirty (30) Million Dollars. On this note I decided to search for a credib=
le person and finding that you bear a similar last name, I was urged to con=
tact you, that I may, with your consent, present you to the "trustee" Bank =
as my late client=2019s surviving family member so as to enable you put up =
a claim to the Bank in that capacity as a next of kin of my client. =

=

I propose that 35% of the net sum will accrue to you at the conclusion of =
this transaction in so far as I do not incur further expenses. Therefore, t=
o facilitate the immediate transfer of this fund, you need, first to contac=
t me via fax/email signifying your interest and as soon as I obtain your co=
nfidence, I will immediately appraise you with the complete details as well=
as fax or email you the documents, with which you are to proceed and I sha=
ll direct on how to put up an application to the Bank. =

=

HOWEVER, you will have to accent to an express agreement which I will forw=
ard to you in order to bind us in this transaction. Upon the receipt of you=
r reply, I will send you by fax or E-mail the next step to take. I will not=
fail to bring to your notice that this proposal is hitch-free and that you=
should not entertain any fears as the required arrangements have been made=
for the completion of this transfer. Like I said, I require only a solemn =
confidentiality.
=

Best regards, =

=

John Silver =

johnsilver347@yahoo.co.uk

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam