419 scam: Thomas Witherspoon <betty@redcarpetrealty.com> From Thomas Witherspoon,

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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "30% for you " (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)
- "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)
- "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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- thomaswitherspoon47@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Thomas Witherspoon <betty@redcarpetrealty.com>
Reply-To: thomaswitherspoon7@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2014 07:53:29 -0400
Subject: From Thomas Witherspoon,

Dear Intending Partner,

I am Mr. Thomas Witherspoon, I am a Business Manager in one of the
biggest banks in the World with a branch in London, United Kingdom. I
have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you.

On the 20th of august 2008, a very rich Chinese customer of mine died
with his wife in a plane crash.(Names withheld). Before his death, he
confided in me and made a deposit in the sum of US$15,500,000 (Fifteen
Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) in a suspense account in my
bank for transfer to an account abroad. It is now over five years
since their death and nobody has come forward to claim this money. The
man had disclosed to me that he is the only surviving member of their
family. All my attempts to trace his next of kin were all fruitless.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to
stand in as the next of kin to this man so that the fruits of this
man's labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt directors of
the bank. You will not need to come to the bank before this
transaction is concluded. I will arrange all the necessary
documentations in your name which will prove that you are the next of
kin. This is simple, I will like you to provide immediately your full
names, address and telephone numbers so that I can prepare the
necessary documents and affidavits which will put you in place as the
next of kin. Upon the conclusion of this transaction, the money will
be shared in the ratio of 50% for me and 30% for you and remaining 20%
will be set aside for the orphans.

There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will
be done by me and in my capacity as the Business Manager; I guarantee
the successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested,
please reply immediately, Upon your response, I shall provide you with
the relevant information to confirm the existence of this
US$15,500,000 in our bank.

Awaiting your urgent reply via my contact details.

Thanks and regards.
Mr Thomas Witherspoon
thomaswitherspoon47@yahoo.com.hk

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam