419 scam: "Mr John Ben"<jamesmadu@inbox.lv> Dear Sir/Madam

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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- winnerofficial1a@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr John Ben" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <libuehelenn@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 20 Nov 2016 07:34:48 +0100
Subject: Dear Sir/Madam

Dear Sir/Madam

I was Instructed by the presidency Commander-in-chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces Federal Republic Of Nigeria and also United Nations (UN) and (IMF)to transfer the sum of 4.5M usd only to you through ATM Visa Card which you can be used in any cash point, shopping mall and Bank. Have you been scammed before? how much did you lost to the scammers this is the

reason this committee is set up to pay you this compensation in order to redeem the image

of the country to the outside world.

You can withdraw money from your ATM Visa Card in any ATM TELLER MACHINE location or center of your choice/nearest to you, in any part of the world.You are advised to send your office or home address,full name, Age, Occupation, direct cellphone number to enable Courier service dispatch your ATM Visa Card to you within 48hrs.Reply to this Email: winnerofficial1a@gmail.com

Yours faithfully,

Mr John Ben

Chairman Compensation

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam