419 scam: "ST.JOHN CATHOLIC" <stjohncatholic155@gmail.com> ST.JOHN CATHOLIC

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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:
- "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.JOHN CATHOLIC" <stjohncatholic155@gmail.com>
Reply-To: st.johncathlicchruchbfaso@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 05 Oct 2016 14:55:43 -0700
Subject: ST.JOHN CATHOLIC

--
ST.JOHN CATHOLIC CHURCH

May the Peace of Lord be with you,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

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam