419 scam: "Mr. Chris Shepherd."<joel.guardiano@irm-hq.com> FROM THE DESK OF MR.CHRIS SHEPHERD

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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2349099718634 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- ubn@africamail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Chris Shepherd." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <UBN@africamail.com>
Date: Sun, 16 Oct 2016 04:15:32 +0500
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF MR.CHRIS SHEPHERD

FROM THE DESK OF MR.CHRIS SHEPHERD.

UNION BANK NIG. PLC

13, BROAD STREET LAGOS

Telephone.+234-90-99718634.

E-mail: UBN@africamail.com

Dear Sir/Madam,

RE: TRUST AND CONFIDENTIAL!!!

I am MR.CHRIS SHEPHERD, Director of Operations Foreign Remittance Union Bank Plc. I am writing this letter to ask for your Assistance and co-operation to carry out this business deal/transaction.

In my department we discovered a dormant Account with the sum of US$25.5M (TWENTY FIVE MILLION,FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY) belonging to one of our foreign customers late Engineer and an oil merchant with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation {NNPC} Late Eng. John Creek (Junior) who died in Kenya Air Bus (A310-300) flight Kq430 in November 1997.Since we heard of his death, we have been expecting his Next of kin to come over and put claims for his money as the heir because we cannot release the fund from his account unless someone applies for claim as the next of kin to the deceased as indicated in our Banking guide lines.

Unfortunately, neither his family members nor distant relatives has applied to claim the said fund. Upon this discovery, I and others officials in my department have agreed to make business with you and release the Total amount to you. We decided to make this business with you because no persons have come for the claim of the fund and we want to avoid it from being returned to our Bank treasury as unclaimed fund/Bad Debt now that our country is in a serious Economic recession.

The terms of sharing can only be discussed if you indicate your willingness in assisting us by sending immediately the below stated information's for a formal application.NOTE: This claim/transaction is risk free but subject to funding liability.

A. Your names in full.

B. Your contact address.

C. Your contact telephone number.

D. A copy of your valued ID.

E. Nominated Bank Account to receive the fund.

Anticipating hearing from you soon.

Yours Faithfully,

Mr. Chris Shepherd.

Director of Operations

Foreign Remittance Union Bank Plc.

Tel:+234-90-99718634

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam