419 scam: test@test.com Dear Friend,

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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "necessary legal documents" (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. )
- "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)
- "million united states dollars" (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.)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- edujohnson12@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: test@test.com
Reply-To: mrsmaryjohnsonx@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2023 01:19:05 -0800
Subject: Dear Friend,

Dear Friend,

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 send you this email by the huge fund transfer opportunity that will be of mutual benefit to the two of us.

However, I am Barrister Edu Johnson, the personal Attorney to the late Engr.Steve Moore a national of Isle of Man in UK, who used to work with Shell Petroleum Development Company(SPDC) in Nigeria. On the 21st ofApril1996, my client, his wife And their three children were involved in acar accident along Shagamu/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 these huge deposits were lodged.

Particularly, the Bank where the deceased had an account valued at about $27million U.S dollars(Twenty Seven million United States Dollars)
Consequently, The bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin orhave 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 of the deceased, so that the proceeds of this account valued at $27million U.Sdollars can be paid to your account and then you and I can share the money. 50%to me and 45% to you, while 5% should be for expenses or tax as your government may require.

I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us to see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Please get in touch with me by email ( edujohnson12@hotmail.com ) to enable us to discuss further and also provide the below information.

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

Yours Faithfully,

Barrister Edu Johnson (Esq)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam