419 scam: "MR.JOHNSON AGU" <mr.johnsonagu.@beetle.ocn.ne.jp> CONTACT MR .JOHN SMITH FOR YOUR ATM MASTER CARD.

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "western union" (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. )
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- johnsith23@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR.JOHNSON AGU" <mr.johnsonagu.@beetle.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "MR.JOHNSON AGU" <johnsith23@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2018 21:59:33 +0900 (JST)
Subject: CONTACT MR .JOHN SMITH FOR YOUR ATM MASTER CARD.

How are you today? I hope this mail meets you in a perfect condition. I am Mr. Johnson former manger western union head office Lagos Nigeria I'm using this opportunity to thank you for your great effort to our unfinished transaction and transfer of your of your fund, am sorry for presenting and using someone else in your name to get this transaction successful. Due to logistic reasons and your in consistence to the other best known to you. Right now, I want to inform you that I have successfully cleared your fund to someone else account who was capable of assisting me in this great venture that have been over and successful.

Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trustworthiness you showed in the course of the transaction forwarded instructions to him on your behalf to send the ATM Master Card of $750,000.00 (Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand United State of America Dollar sans action I want to compensate you and show my gratitude to you with the sum of $750,000 (Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand United State of America Dollars). I have authorized my personal secretary John Smith where I deposited the money to issue you your ATM Master Card, cashable in any A.T.M Machine in your country. My dear friend I will like you to contact John Smith for the collection of your A.T.M Master Card.

His name and contact address is as follows:
Name:John Smith
Email:johnsith23@gmail.com

Contact John Smith, At the moment finally remember that I have ) to you as soon as you contact him without delay. Please I will like you to accept this token with good faith as this is from the bottom of my heart.

Best Regards.
Mr.Johnson Agu

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam