419 scam: "MR.JOHN ODILI" <mr.johnodili@yahoo.co.za> DEAREST FRIEND,

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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.
- +22999138039 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- mrsugochukwuobichima@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR.JOHN ODILI" <mr.johnodili@yahoo.co.za>
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 09:08:55 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: DEAREST FRIEND,

DEAREST FRIEND,

I AM MR JOHN ODILI AND I AM VERY HAPPY TO INFORM YOU ABOUT MY SUCCESS IN GETTING THAT FUND TRANSFERED. NOW I WANT YOU TO CONTACT MYSECRETERY ON THE INFORMATION BELOW AND RECEIVE YOUR COMPENSATION OF $3,500,000.00 FROM HER:
NAME....MRS .UGOCHUKWU OBICHIMAEMAIL: (mrsugochukwuobichima@yahoo.fr)CALL ON THIS +229-99138039ADDRESS 12 TOGBA EXPRESS MISSEBO COTONOU BENIN,

SEND HER THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO PROVE YOURSELF TO HER:
YOUR FULL NAME;...........................YOUR ADDRESS:.............................YOUR COUNTRY:.............................YOUR AGE:......................................YOUR OCCUPATION:........................YOUR PHONE NUMBER:...................

NOTE THAT IF YOU DID NOT SEND HER THE ABOVE INFORMATION COMPLETE, SHE WILL NOT RELEASE THE ATM VISE CARD TO YOU BECAUSE HE HAS TO BE SURE THAT ITIS ME.ASK HER TO SEND YOU THE TOTAL SUM OF ($3,500,000.00)USD ATM VISE CARD, WHICH I KEPT FOR YOU. NOTE ALSO THAT I WILL NOT BEREACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE FOR NOW BECAUSE I AM CORRENTLY AWAY FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSE WITH MY SHARE AND I WILL BE BUSY TILL ABOUT SIXMONTHS TIME OR A YEAR.
REGARDS,MR.JOHN ODILI

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam