419 scam: "Mr. John Mike" <officefile614@gmail.com> URGENT REPLY.

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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:
- "clearance fee" (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. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. John Mike" <officefile614@gmail.com>
Reply-To: officefile7131@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 13 Nov 2021 15:55:35 -0800
Subject: URGENT REPLY.

--
HELLO MY DEAR,

Iâ€™m Diplomatic Agent MR. John Mike, am writing this to inform you about my
successful Arrival

at Los Aangeles INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT with your ATM CARD worth
[$7.500,000.00 ) US Dollars

which I have been instructed By IMF to be deliver to your home address
today.

Please reconfirm your address as the following because I mistakenly miss
your address that was

giving by (IMF) to avoid wrong delivery;

Your name:::::::::::::::::

Home address::::::::::::::

Nearest airport:::::::::::

The Airport clearance fee is what you are asked to pay which will cost you
$500 only, which you

are asked to send the fee through a gifts card, so once the airpot custom
authority confirm it,

I will present your package to your home address immediately.

Everything relying on you to meet up the fee, to enable me to proceed with
your funds of

[$7.500,000.00] USD without wasting any time.

YOUR URGENT REPLY IS NEEDED..

Thanks for Your Understanding,
Best Regards
MR) John Mike

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam