419 scam: "David I. Howell" <david-i-howell@live.com> UPDATE

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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "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)
- "this business is hitch free " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "David I. Howell" <david-i-howell@live.com>
Reply-To: avidhowell@instructor.net
Date: Wed, 4 May 2011 14:21:49 -0400
Subject: UPDATE

My name is Mr.David I. Howell, The Director, Foreign Operation, National Westminster Bank Plc. I am writing in respect of our foreign customer with name: Mr. John Horace Sedwick, Jr. with account number 471020158067 who died two years ego, and since the demise of this our customer, I personally has watched with kind interest to see the next of kin of this man, but all has proved abortive as no one has come to claim his funds of US$6,000,000.00.M.USD.(Six Million United States Dollar), which has been with my branch for a very long time. On this note, I decided to seek for whom his or her name shall be used as the next of kin, let me know if we can work together. I would like you to stand as the next of kin to my deceased client who made the deposits to my bank. He died without any registered next of kin and as such the funds now have an open beneficiary mandate. Fortunately, both of you have the same last name so it will be very easy to make you become his official next of ki!
n.

However, the banking ethics here does not allow such money to stay more than 3 years, because money will be recalled to the bank treasury as unclaimed funds after this period. In view of this, I got your contact through my search in internet, after realizing that your name and country is similar to the deceased, I will give you 25% of the total after finally and successful transfer of the funds to your destination bank account.

Upon the receipt of your response, I will send you by fax or e-mail the application and give you comprehensive details on what we are to do. I will not fail to bring to your notice that this business is hitch free and you should not entertain any fear as all modalities for fund transfer can be finalized within five banking days, after you apply to the bank as a relation to the deceased. When you receive this letter, kindly send me an e-mail signifying your interest including your most confidential telephone/fax numbers for quick communication.

Respectfully submitted,

Mr. David I Howell.
Director; Foreign Operation
(Natwest BanK Plc.)
London, UK.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam