419 scam: "Mr. John Walter" <weboffice----12@att.net> Business Proposal

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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:

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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "into your nominated bank account" (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)
- "hundred thousand u.s 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)
- "mrjohnwalter11@airsoftmail.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- +2348033992446 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. John Walter" <weboffice----12@att.net>
Reply-To: mrjohnwalter11@airsoftmail.com
Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2011 01:50:58 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Business Proposal

Dear sir/madam,
To whom it may concern, I kindly want to put in notice before you, My name is Mr. John Walter a citizen of South Africa, I am in Nigeria presently seeking for a reliable and trust worthy fellow to assist me of my late father money, which I transferred from the Bank of England to the British High Commission in India, for an investment purpose.

The said amount is Three million Two hundred Thousand U.S Dollars ($3.2 million) I have done a reasonable research and find out that is not easy for foreigner to have an account for such a huge amount, so I want you as a citizen of India to assist me by transferring this Fund into your nominated bank account, and twenty five percent (25%) will be offer to you for the work well done. 5% for any expenses that may arise.

Please, if you are interested do contact me as soon as possible. For proper verification here is my contact number. Thanks for co. operation.
E-mail: mrjohnwalter11@airsoftmail.com
This is my contact number +234 803 399 2446.
Regards
Mr. John Walter

Anti-fraud resources:

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