419 scam: "Richard Johnson"<richard2johnson@cosmo.com> thanks for ur understanding

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "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)
- ",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)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
This email message is a "dying merchant" scam.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- richard2johnson24@yahoo.it (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Richard Johnson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <richard2johnson24@yahoo.it>
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2012 21:21:38 -0800
Subject: thanks for ur understanding

Hello Friend,
Your first reaction to this mail will be total rejection, scare and may be disbelief, Please do accept my
apology if this mail does not suit you. But this mail comes from a devastated, sorrowful and emotional laden soul that needs compassion from a kind and good spirited person to wipe away my tears and appropriate my dream and humanitarian gesture. As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because, I believe everyone dies someday.

My names are MR RICHARD JOHNSON a merchant in South Africa. I worked with Zambian Ministry of Mining and Resources for eight years as a contractor, I have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer .It has defiled all forms of medical treatment, I am very worried as the doctors have informed me that its terminal. I don't know how much time I have left on earth, hence this mail to you. I have not particularly lived my life well, as I never really cared for anyone but my business.

Though I am very rich, I was never generous, I was always hostile to people and only focused on my business as that was the only thing I cared for. But now I regret all this as I now know that there is more to life than just wanting to have or make all the money in the world. I believe when God gives me a second chance to come to this world I would live my life a different way from how I have lived it. Now that God has called me, I have willed and given most of my property and assets to my immediate and extended family members as well as a few close friends.

I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul hence, I decided to give alms to charity organizations, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on earth. So far, I have distributed money to some charity organizations in the South Africa, Algeria and Malaysia. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this myself anymore. I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and distribute the money which I have there to charity organization in Bulgaria and Pakistan; they refused and kept the money to themselves. Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be content with what I have left for them The last of my money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of{$18,000,000,00}EIGHTEEN MILLION US DOLLARS that I have with a finance/Security Company abroad.

I will want you to help me and dispatch it to charity organizations. I have set aside 20% for you and for
your time. If you are interested in this transaction, please urgently contact me on the following e-mail
address richard2johnson24@yahoo.it

God be with you.

BEST REGARDS
MR RICHARD JOHNSON

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam