419 scam: "John Simon."<johnsimon@mix.ne.jp> Compliments

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- johnsimon1002@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "John Simon." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnsimon1002@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2018 05:14:00 -0700
Subject: Compliments

Dear Friend,

I'm Barrister john simon a solicitor at law, personal attorney to hereby refer as my client a national of your country who used to work as a supervisor in Shell Oil Company PLC in London United Kingdom

I have in my possesion documents and certificates as an attorney to my client those documents relating to his belongings and fixed deposits in the following bank (Standard Chartered Bank Accra Ghana)the existence amount of $10,400,000 with 4KG of Gold that belongs to my late customer who has the same surnames as yours.

The fund is now without any claim because my client died in a deadly earthquake in Japan 2011 on a business trip. I want your cooperation so as to make the bank send you the fund as the next of kin considering that you have the same surname with my late client and after my searching over the years.

This transaction will be of a great mutual assistance to us, Send me your reply so that I will give you more information,Kindly response to me through my private email with your contact detailsthrough my private email address(johnsimon1002@gmail.com)

Best Regards

John Simon ESQ

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam