419 scam: John Adams BUSINESS DEAL.

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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:
- ",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)
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.
- johnadamslewis1954@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: John Adams
Reply-To: <johnadamslewis1954@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2015 22:16:05 -0800
Subject: BUSINESS DEAL.

Compliment!! =

Let me start by first introducing myself properly to you. It may surprise =
you receiving this message and its contents, since there was no previous co=
rrespondence between us. My name is Mr. John Adams; from United States of A=
merica an auditor and head of computing department first State Bank Souther=
n California. =

My purpose of contacting you is for you to help secure the funds left behi=
nd by our late customer, to avoid it being confiscated or declared unservic=
eable by our Bank where this fund valued USD 15,000,000 (Fifteen Million US=
Dollar) is deposited by our deceased customer Mrs. PATRICIA HELEN (the acc=
ount owner) who died along with her supposed next of kin since November 2nd=
, 2001, This fund was meant for an urgent cash investment; hence it was kep=
t in our vault and lying dormant for years now without anybody coming for t=
he claim, I discovered that if I do not remit this money out urgently, it w=
ill be forfeited for nothing. Therefore I want to release this money to you=
as the next of kin to our deceased customer Mrs. PATRICIA HELEN. =

And we will share the money equally, which mean 50% for you and 50% for me=
. I assure you the successful execution of this transaction. If on the cont=
rary you wish to achieve this goal with me, kindly get back to me with your=
contact details and indication of interest so I can advise you further on =
this regards.
However, if this business proposal offends your moral ethics, do accept m=
y sincere apology. =

Regards =

John Adams Lewis. =

johnadamslewis1954@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam