419 scam: "Mr. Richard Johnson" <atmd773@gmail.com> MTCN........966-403-7936

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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:
- "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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
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.
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.
- wu906722@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Richard Johnson" <atmd773@gmail.com>
Reply-To: wu906722@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 7 Mar 2023 00:31:03 +1300
Subject: MTCN........966-403-7936

This is your first payment of $5000.00 dollars but you will pay the
$50 dollars before you can pick it up in your destination,So kindly
send it via Steam wallet card, Apple gift card or iTunes card to
enable us pick it up and comments on your first payment of $5000.00
dollars. As you know already that we will be sending you $5000.00
twice per day until the total amount is fully transferred to you and
it was agreed that you are to pay a total sum of $50.00 for renewing
your transfer file so that the Payment will be in your Name before you
are enabled to pick up your first payment at any agent location,do
take note of this, that you are to pay the $50.00 before Going to any
western union or Money Gram office in your location to pick up the
$5000.00 which is currently active, Below is the Western Union
information to pick up the $5000.00USD which you will be receiving
twice daily after you send $50.00 in this office for the renewing of
your file for the payment to be in your name OK .

NOTE: That you cannot pick up these funds without Renewing your file
for the payment to be in your NAME because you cannot pick this money
with this Name.Information to pick up your first payment of $5000 is
listed below so make sure you get the needed $50 dollars send and your
payment will be Available in your NAME, and remember your total funds
is $4.5 million united stated dollars.

Here is how to make the payment. you can send the $50 dollar via Apple
gift card, steam wallet card or iTunes card and wait to receive your
funds within 45 minutes time after you send the card without any
further delay

Finally update us with the payment information of the $50 dollars once
you make the payment so that you can start picking up your funds
immediately to your nearest Western union. THANKS YOUR URGENT RESPOND
IS HIGHLY NEEDED .

REGARD'S
Mr. Richard Johnson
wu906722@gmail.com

THIS IS THE PAYMENT YOU CAN TRACK IT AND SEE THAT THE MONEY IS
AVAILABLE FOR YOU,

MTCN........966-403-7936
SENDERS NAME ........James Bryan
AMOUNT.............$5000.00 DOLLARS ONLY

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam