419 scam: john walter <johnwalter160@gmail.com> Hello

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "any lucrative business in your country" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million us 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: john walter <johnwalter160@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2014 16:27:09 -0600
Subject: Hello

Dear friend

Greetings to you, I know that this mail will come to you as a surprise. I
am contacting you based on trust and confidentiality that you will keep
this as top secret. Before I begin let me introduce myself to you. I am
John walter former Personal assistance to the Syria Deputy oil minister
>From the Free Syrian opposition group operating in Syria.
My country is at war and we are all moving our money out of Syria. I want
you to help me receive the money in your country for investment and amount
in question is US$4,000,000.00 (Four Million US dollars) I will give you
30% of the total for your assistance. We plan to move the funds to you
through Lebanon or Turkey through the UN or diplomatic means. You will also
help me invest 50% of my share into any lucrative business in your country,
where your government will not take much tax from it,
If you can, but if not please keep it safe for me until everything goes
quiet. I guarantee you that this venture is risk free. If you are
interested, please, get back to me for further details information, and if
not, please delete this letter and do not inform anyone about it.
Thanks,
John walter

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam