419 scam: Mr John Edward <richardsmall491@gmail.com> Attention Beneficiary

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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "i got your address from " (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: Mr John Edward <richardsmall491@gmail.com>
Reply-To: johnedward737@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 3 Aug 2019 15:08:46 -0700
Subject: Attention Beneficiary

Dear Sir
After due deliberation with my colleagues, I have decided to send you this
business proposal. We want a reliable person who can assist us to receive
the sum of Sixteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars
( $16,500,000 ) into your personal account.
These fund resulted from an over-invoiced of contract we awarded to sum
foreign contractors in the past. The contract has since been executed and
commissioned and the contractors have been duly paid.
We are left with the balance ( $16,500,000 ) as part of the over-invoiced
amount which we have deliberately over estimated for our own use.
But under our protocol division, civil servants are forbidden to operate or
own foreign bank accounts. This is why I am contacting you to be our
custodian for this fund.
As you may want to know and to make you less curious, I got your address
from address in internet site that portrayed your establishment in good
light.
I and my colleagues have agreed to compensate you duly if agreement is
reached by both of us with 30% of the total sum.
I will give you more information when i hear from you.
Cheers and God bless.

Best Regards,
Eng. Shehu Ahmed

my colleagues
Mr.John Edward

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam