419 scam: "SENATOR. JOHN JAMES"<hon.senator_johnjames@hotmail.com> DEAR FRIEND, MESSAGE FROM SENATOR JOHN JAMES

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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "a security company " (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. )
- ",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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "SENATOR. JOHN JAMES" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <senator.jjames@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2011 01:09:02 +0100
Subject: DEAR FRIEND, MESSAGE FROM SENATOR JOHN JAMES

SENATOR JOHN JAMES
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

DEAR FRIEND,

I AM VERY SORRY FOR CONTACTING YOU VIA INTERNET, IT IS MY ONLY OPTION TO
REACH YOU AT THIS MOMENT. MY NAME IS SENATOR JOHN JAMES. YOU CAN READ
ABOUT ME ON THIS LINK:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_James_Akpan_Udo-Edehe

I BECAME A SENATOR IN NIGERIA ON 29 MAY 1999. I SERVED MY COUNTRY WITH ALL
MY MIGHT. I HAD PROBLEMS THOUGH DURING MY TENURE AS A SENATOR. I HAD
SERIES LIFE THREATENING ENCOUNTERS FROM OTHER PARTY MEMBERS. AT DIFFERENT
OCCASION I WAS ACCUSED WRONGLY FOR MURDER, YOU CAN READ ABOUT THE MOST
RECENT ON THESE LINKS:
http://thewillnigeria.com/general/5207-Akpanudoedehe-Regains-Freedom.html

http://thewillnigeria.com/politics/4999-Murder-Detained-Former-Minister-Exonerates-Self.html

I HAVE NEVER KILLED IN MY LIFE AND WILL NEVER DO SO FOR ANY REASON. PART
OF THE REASONS I HAVE THESE PROBLEMS ARE ENVY AND JEALOUSY FROM MY
OPPONENTS WHO THINK THE ONLY WAY TO GET ME SUFFER FOR NO REASON IS TO
BLACKMAIL ME AND MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY. PLEASE MY GOOD FRIEND, I DO NOT
INTEND TO WASTE YOUR TIME TALKING ABOUT MY PERSONAL PROBLEMS. I WILL LOVE
TO GO AHEAD TO TELL YOU WHY I CONTACTED YOU.

I HAVE $265,000,000.00 US DOLLARS IN A SECURITY COMPANY IN DOHA QATAR, AS A
PUBLIC SERVANT, I AM NOT ALLOWED TO OPERATE A FOREIGN ACCOUNT IN MY NAME,
SO I HAVE DEPOSITED THIS AMOUNT IN THE COMPANY WITH THE HELP OF A BANKER
WHO DID HIS BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MONEY IS NOT IN MY NAME. THE MONEY
IS LEGAL AND DOES NOT COME FROM ANY ILLEGAL BUSINESS TRANSACTION. I WANT A
SINCERE PERSON THAT WILL MANAGE THIS MONEY FOR ME AND INVEST IT IN ANY
LUCRATIVE BUSINESS IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD. AN AGREEMENT WILL BE DRAFTED
TO MAKE SURE YOU GET PAID FOR ANY HELP THAT YOU WILL GIVE ME CONCERNING
THE INVESTMENT OF THIS MONEY.

YOU WILL BE IN CHARGE OF THE MONEY AND MANAGE IT AND THEN WE SHARE THE
PROFIT FROM THE BUSINESS ENGAGED WITH THIS MONEY. ALL I NEED TO DO IS HAVE
YOU CONTACT THE COMPANY IN DOHA QATAR AND THEN CHANGE THE OWNERSHIP OF THE
FUNDS TO YOUR NAME WITH THE HELP OF A LAWYER. PLEASE I WANT YOU TO GET
BACK TO ME TODAY VIA EMAIL. LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN HELPING
IN THIS MATTER AS I WILL BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU ON THIS.

PLEASE SEND ME YOUR FULL DETAILS IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH ME
ON THIS PROJECT.

THANKS.

SENATOR JOHN JAMES.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam