419 scam: "Mr. Jonah CEO" <drshafli@inter.net> May God bless you this year

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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:
- "necessary legal documents" (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. )
- "huge deposit" (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 next of kin 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.
- jonahjang2015@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Jonah CEO" <drshafli@inter.net>
Reply-To: jonahjang55@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 02 Jan 2015 11:09:17 +0100
Subject: May God bless you this year

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â YOUR URGENT RESPONSE WILL BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED. I pray my email meets you well.. I am the personal attorney to Mr. Nicolas A., a national of your country who used to work as a chairman with Societe Beninnose Dâ€™Electricites ET Dâ€™eau Cotonou, Republic of Benin Here. On the 21st of May 2008,my client Mr. Nicolas A., his wife and their three Children were involved in a car accident along portnovo express-road, All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Finance InstituteÂ ECOBANKÂ where these huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, ECOBANK where the deceased had an account valued at aboutÂ US$18.5 millionÂ has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next eleven official working days. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over a years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account valued atÂ US$18.5 millionÂ can be paid to your account and then you and me can share the money. 60 to me and 40 to you, and I am all so interested in investing my 60 share in your country in any viable and profitable venture that you will recommend. There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction to ensure will be done by me. If you are interested i will furnish you with more details.I will obtain all necessary legal documents that be used to back you as the next of kin to Mr. Nicolas A.. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us seeing this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please contact me through my private email addressÂ Â jonahjang2015@yahoo.comÂ Â for details immediately you access this mail. Best regards, Dr. Jang . Esqâ€â€®

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