419 scam: "Mr. Martin Johnson"<martinjohnson1972@gmail.com> Possible Relative's Account!!!

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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)
- "necessary legal documents" (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. )
- "greater london" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447045729947 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- martinjohnson242@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Martin Johnson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <martinjohnson242@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Mar 2010 13:52:11 +0200
Subject: Possible Relative's Account!!!

Dear Friend,

I am Mr Martin Johnson From Harlsden, North West London, here in England. I work for
Natwest Bank London. I am writing you from my office that will be of imense benefit to
both of us. In my department, being the Marketing manager (Greater London Regional
Office), I discovered an abandoned sum of $16.4 million USA Dollars (Sixteen Million four
Hundred United States Dollars) in an account that belongs to one of our foreign customers
Late Mr.George Schwartz American citizen who unfortunately lost his life in the plane
crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 which crashed on January 31 2000, including his wife
and only daughter.

The choice of contacting you is aroused from the geographical nature of where you live,
particularly due to the sensivity of the transaction and the confidentiality herein. Now
our bank has been waiting for any of the relatives to come-up for the claim but nobody has
done that.I personally have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for 2 years now, I
seek your consent to present you as the next of kin/Beneficiary to the deceased so that
the proceeds of this account valued at $16.410 Million Dollars can be paid to you.

This will be disbursed or shared in these percentages,60% to me and 40% to you. I have
secured all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up this claim we are about
to do. All i need is to fill in your names to the documents and legalise it in the court
here to prove you as the legitimate beneficiary. All I require now is your honest
co-operation, Confidentiality and Trust to enable us see this transaction through. I
guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect
you from any breach of the law.

Please,provide me the following: as we have 5 days to run it through. this is very very
URGENT PLEASE.

1. Full Name
2. Your Telephone Number
3. Your Contact Address.

Having gone through a methodical search, I decided to contact you hoping that you will
find this proposal interesting. Please on your confirmation of this message and indicating
your interest will furnish you with more information.Endeavor to let me know your decision
rather than keep me waiting. Call me upon the receipt of the mail Tel:+447045729947 or
mail me via martinjohnson242@gmail.com.

Best regards,
Mr Martin Johnson.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam