419 scam: "Fred Johnson"<fredjohnson0100@gmail.com> Hello

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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:
- "a security company " (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 amount of money" (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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "Fred Johnson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <fredjohnson0001@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2017 12:47:28 -0700
Subject: Hello

Greetings,

It is with trust and believe that I write to you, although I don't know you neither have I seen you before, but my confidence was reposed On you.

I am Barr. Fred Johnson (Esq.), a legal practitioner. My client who was a member board of trustees SPDC London was killed in a fatal accident some years ago. Before his death, I assisted him in the deposit of huge amount of money with a Security Company for safekeeping as he completed a contract with the Ghana GNPC (Ghana National Petroleum Company) .The funds have remained unclaimed since his death, and such unclaimed funds are appropriated and returned to the treasury as a matter of policy. Considering the lack of success in my bid to locate any of his relatives for over a year now, I hereby solicit your consent to enable me present you as the Next of Kin to my deceased client.

I guarantee you that this will be Executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law, Also I would be grateful if this mail will be favored with an earlier reply. I urge you to take this message serious and with an open mind, with good faith and trust. Join me and am assuring you now that you will never be disappointed.

However, I am giving you 40% of the total amount. Finally, I demand that you keep this transaction confidential till we complete the deal and also confirm that the funds have been transferred into your account.

I await your reply,

Yours Sincerely

Barrister Fred Johnson (Esq.)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam