419 scam: "MR. JOHN SMITH" <prctogo1@gmail.com> THANKS FOR YOUR EFFORT

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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",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)
- "00,000.00" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- marksonw02@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. JOHN SMITH" <prctogo1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: marksonw02@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 27 Dec 2019 13:27:01 -0800
Subject: THANKS FOR YOUR EFFORT

*Hello Dear,*

*How are you? hope you are doing good? I'm sorry for intruding into your
privacy through this means because i thought you didn't receive my previous
message as this is second message to you. I'm John Smith, I previously
contacted you long time ago regarding a multi-million-dollar business
proposal which we never concluded because you're unable to finance my
proposal then.*

*Well, I just want to use this medium to thank you very much for your
earlier assistance to help me in receiving the funds without any positive
outcome and also inform you that the business has been concluded with the
assistance of another partner who financed the transaction to a logical
conclusion.*

*Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trust worthiness you showed
during the course of the transaction despite it fail us somehow. I have
decided to compensate you and show my gratitude to you with the sum of
$3,500,000.00. (Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) for your
investment life settlement.*

*This Money are in ATM MASTER CARD in your name for security purpose which
you can use to withdraw $10,000 .00 per day in any ATM Machine of your
choice in the whole world. *

*Therefore, contact my Account Officer Mr. William M.Johnson on his direct
email address at:( marksonw02@gmail.com <marksonw02@gmail.com>) for
collection of your ATM MASTER CARD.*

*I have Instructed him to release it to you whenever you request for it. At
the moment, I'm very busy with my partner because of the Charity home
project am building in his country because my Doctor told me that i will
not last long because of the cancer problem am having that is why i decided
donate all my wealth to charity home. I will like you to accept this token
with good faith as this is from my heart.*

*Please do not forget to help the poor people in your country soon as you
receive your ATM MASTER CARD.*

*Thanks and God bless you and your family.*

*Yours sincerely,*
*John Smith*

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam