419 scam: "Dr.Ray Johnston"<christina@publica.com.tw> Can You?

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:
- "consignment " (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)
- "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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr.Ray Johnston" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <raymond.johnston@rediffmail.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2012 02:42:43 +0430
Subject: Can You?

Attn: Please,
So sorry I pried into your privacy but I am very convinced that you can work with me. I seek your partnership for a private business which will be of great benefit to both of us.

Following the meeting held last month by the Heads of British Airport Authority in London, it was unanimously agreed that a committee be put in place to ensure the release of all unclaimed and abandoned Luggage at the warehouse Heathrow International Airport London.

This is as a result of several petitions from the international community on the failure to receive their various goods from the Airport warehouse. From my findings being the Chairman of the Committee, there is this metallic box which was scanned and contains Twenty Million US Dollars. The owner of this luggage was abandoned in 2010 by the diplomatic agents who could not complete delivery due to some security measures put in by the Airport Authority.

My reason for contacting you is to validate all claim documents and file your name as the owner of this luggage, then arrange for a DIPLOMATIC LIFTING COMPANY to deliver this consignment to you.

If you are interested in this deal, please respond for more details.

Yours truly,
Raymond Johnston
Aviation Consultant, HIA London, UK.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam