419 scam: ruth johnson <ruth331

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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:
- ",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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: ruth johnson <ruth331_jh@att.net>
Reply-To: ruth221_jh@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2011 10:09:47 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Hello.

Hello.

I got your online contact while searching for a sincere and honest person as a business partner in the site,and i decided to forward this mail to you knowing that my insinct has lead me the rigth way.I understand that through Internet is not the best way to link up with you because of the confidentiality which my proposal demands.

However, I have already sent you this same letter by post one month ago, but I am not
sure if it did get to you since I have not heard from you, hence i am constrain to
reach you through the Internet which has been abused over the years.

My name is Miss routh johnson of sudan nationality.I have some amount of $2,000,000 dollars (two million USA dollars)to invest in your country,depending on your advice on the type of investment that will be recommended profitable to invest there on my arrival in your country and that is why i am in search of a trustworthy and reliable foreign partner who will help me to invest and manage the money properly in his country, hence i decided to contact you on this.I will be sending you my picture when i hear back from you. I am waiting for your earnest response
Warm regards
Routh johnson

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam