419 scam: "Mrs. Jannas Stafford" <Stafford@web.com> FUNDS INHERITANCE

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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:
- "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 "dying widow" 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.
- ricorsjerry@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Jannas Stafford" <Stafford@web.com>
Reply-To: JannasStafford@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2011 13:55:19 -0200 (BRST)
Subject: FUNDS INHERITANCE

Good Day,

My name is Mrs. Jannas Stafford. I am a dying woman who had decided to donate
what I have to you. I am 59 years old and was diagnosed for cancer about 2years
ago, immediately after the death of my husband, who had left me everything he
worked for. I have been touched by God to donate from what I have inherited from
my late husband to you for the good work of God, rather than allow my relatives
to use my husband's hard earned funds ungodly. I have asked God to forgive me
all my sins and i believe he has because He is a merciful God. I will be going
in for an operation, and i pray that i survive the operation. I have decided to
WILL/donate the sum of $3,445,000 Three million four hundred and fourtyfive
thousand dollars to you for the good work
of the lord, and to help the motherless, less privileged and also for the
assistance of the widows. At the moment I cannot take any telephone calls, due
to the fact that my relatives are around me and i have been restricted by my
doctor from taking telephone calls because I deserve all the rest I have
informed my lawyer about my decision in WILLING this fund to you. I wish you all
the best and may the good Lord bless you abundantly, and please use the funds
well and always extend the good work to others.Kindly Contact my lawyer
Barrister.Below is the information.

Name; Barr. Ricors Jerry
Email address; ricorsjerry@yahoo.com.hk
Website; http://www.ricorsabogados.com/home/

Thank you
Mrs. Jannas S.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam