419 scam: "R. W. Johnson"<rwj000@live.com> From Mr. R. W. Johnson

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "R. W. Johnson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wuruka_johnson1@excite.it>
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 08:04:48 +0100
Subject: From Mr. R. W. Johnson

Dear Friend,

It is indeed with a heart of hope that I am contacting you in the context below. I am appealing to you to treat with utmost secrecy and absolute confidentiality.

I am Mr. R. W Johnson, the Director of Operations AV DIPLOMATIC GLOBAL FINANCE SERVICES LTD. It may interest you to know that deciding to carry out this transaction was not an easy task for me, as I had to ensure that whoever I would deal with in regard to this must be of high moral estate and sound reputation.

I am contacting you to be of great assistance in Claiming the sum of US$17,800,000.00M
(Seventeen Million Eight Hundred Thousand United States of America Dollars Only) deposited by our late customer Mr. Andreas Schranner, a German contractor who died in the ill-fated Air France Concorde plane AF4590, which crashed into the Hotelissimoon Monday, 24 July 2000. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm) . Difference in surnames and nationality is not any problem.

It has been confirmed that he perished with family including inlaws. All efforts to trace any of his relatives has all been effort in furtility. I am assuring you that there is no legal implication. I am fully aware of your position and reputation and will do everything possible to protect your image in this transaction. Be assured of no mistakes as I am the director of operations and all the process will have to pass through my table for approval.

Upon conclusion, I suggest that since we are all going to play important roles to make this a success, you will take 40% of the total sum while the balance of 60% is for me.

You should provide immediately the following information:

1. Your complete names
2. Your private phone numbers
3. Your private fax numbers
4. Your current contact address

On receipt of the above requested information, I will explain comprehensively the whole transaction and how to make it successful.

I anticipate your urgent and favorable response.

Best regards
Mr. R. W. Johnson

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam