419 scam: "Barrister JOHN WILL ((Esq)" <info@guesthousemarujo.net> ATTN: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:
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- +2348027967073 (Nigeria, 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.
- jwilly0006@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barrister JOHN WILL ((Esq)" <info@guesthousemarujo.net>
Reply-To: jwilly0006@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2017 15:54:49 +0100
Subject: ATTN:Sir/Madam,

BARRISTER JOHN WILL
LEGAL PRACTITIONER, PUBLIC NOTARY &
HIGH COURT REPRESENTATIVE
SUITE 202 OMEGA PLAZA, APAPA
LAGOS â€“NIGERIA
TEL-PHONE +234-80 27967073
E-mail: jwilly0006@gmail.com

ATTN:Sir/Madam,

It is obvious that this proposal will come to you as a surprise. This
is because we have not met before but I am inspired to sending you
this email by the huge fund transfer opportunity that will be of
mutual benefit to both of us.

However, I am barrister JOHN WILL Attorney to the late Eng Steve Moore
a national of Isle of Man in UK, who used to work with Shell Petroleum
Development Company (SPDC) in Nigeria. On the 11th of November,1997.My
client, his wife And their three children were involved in a car
accident along Sagamu/ Lagos Express Road. Unfortunately they all lost
their lives in the event of the accident, Since then I have made
several inquiries to several Embassies to locate any of my clients
extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his
relatives over the Internet to locate any member of his family but of
no avail, hence I contacted you. I contacted you to assist in
repatriating the money and property left behind by my client; I can
easily convince the bank with my legal practice that you are the only
surviving relation of my client.

Otherwise the Estate he left behind will be confiscated or declared
unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged
Particularly, the Bank where the deceased had an account valued at
about $27 million U.S dollars(twenty seven million U.S.America
Dollars).Consequently,

The bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the
account confiscated within the next ten official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over
several years now. I seek your consent to present you as the next of
kin to the deceased, so that the proceeds of this account valued at
$27million U.S dollars can be paid to your account and then you and me
can share the money. 55% to me and 40% to you, while 5% should be for
expenses or tax as your government may require. All I require is your
honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through and forward the
following information to me,

1, Your Name:
2, House Address:
3, Your Phone/Fax Number:
4,Your Age and Gender:
5,Your occupation:

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement
that will protect you from any breach of the law. Send your reply to
my alternative email address (jwilly0006@gmail.com

Yours Faithfully,

Barrister JOHN WILL ((Esq)
E-mail: jwilly0006@gmail.com
TEL-PHONE +234-80 27967073

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam