419 scam: "Mr. Richards Mark"<richardmark@superposta.com> I SEEK YOUR CONSENT TO CARRY OUT A TRANSACTION

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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- ",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)
- "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "observe utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- mark.richards90@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Richards Mark" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <markrichard0158@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:41:40 +0100
Subject: I SEEK YOUR CONSENT TO CARRY OUT A TRANSACTION

Dear Sir/Madam.

My Name is Mr Mark Richards the the Branch Manager of the Intercontinental Bank Plc, Lagos-Island Nigeria. I have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. On Feb. 27, 2008, a British Oil Consultant/contractor who work with the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) here in Nigeria, (Name deliberately with held) made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Dollars) in my branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding dress but got no reply.

After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers, the British Shell Oil Mining Corporation, that the depositor died from an automobile accident in London. On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL and all attempts to trace his next of kin were fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that the depositor did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, US$50,000, 000.00 is still sitting in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it.

According to Laws of Federal Republic of Nigeria, at the expiration of 5(five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Nigeria Federal Government reserve account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), if nobody applies to claim the fund. Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as THE NEXT OF KIN to the depositor so that the fruits of this old man's labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials. This is simple, I will like you to provide immediately your full names and address so that the attorney will prepare the Necessary documents and affidavits that will put you in place as the next of kin. We shall employ the services of an attorney for drafting and notarization of the WILL and to obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your favor for the transfer.

A bank account in any part of the world that you will provide will then facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin. The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the patio of 65% for me and 35% for you. There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the attorney and my position as the Branch Manager guarantees the successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please reply immediately via the private email(mark.richards90@yahoo.com). Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand the transaction. Please send me your confidential telephone and fax numbers including your contact address and ID for easy communication.

Also, please observe utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country. You can reach me through my e-mail after I will give you fax/telephone number too for easy communications.
Regards.
Mr. Mark Richards

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam