419 scam: "Karen Wooddells Esq." <engr.edwardo@gmail.com> Private letter

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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.

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "huge deposit" (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)
- "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)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "Karen Wooddells Esq." <engr.edwardo@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dljchambers@legislator.com
Date: Sat, 21 Oct 2017 06:39:57 -0700
Subject: Private letter

*Dear Friend,*

*I am Karen Wooddelsl,a Solicitor and the Personal attorney to Mr. Hoel
Paul Edouard,a national of your country,who died in a Plane crash on Monday
2nd September 1998 GMT 14:22 UK while they were flying from New York to
Geneva. You can see the news or report on the below
site.http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9809/swissair.victims.list/index.html
<http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9809/swissair.victims.list/index.html>My client
his wife and three children lost their lives on that plane crash. Since
then,I have made several enquiries to the embassy to locate any of my
clients extended relatives,this has proved unsuccessful. After several
unsuccessful attempts,I decided to trace his relatives over the internet,so
as to locate any member of his family but to no avail.I have contacted you
to assist in repatriating the money that belonged to my late client before
they get confiscated or declared as serviceable by the bank where this huge
deposit were lodged. Particularly,the Bank where the deceased had an
account valued at about US$37 Million Dollars,has issued me a notice to
provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next
twenty one (21) official working days.Since I have been unsuccessful in
locating the relatives for over 5 years now therefore,I have decided to
seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased, so
that the proceeds of this account valued at US$37 Million Dollars,can be
paid to you and then you and me can share the money 50% to me and 45% to
you,while 5% will be mapped out for any expenses during the process or tax
as your government may require.I have the certificate of deposit that can
be used to back up any claim we may make.All I require is your honest
cooperation to enable us see the deal through. And I guarantee that this
will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from
any breach of the law. Please get in touch with me strictly via email to
enable us discuss further.Best regards.Barrister Karen Wooddells.*

Anti-fraud resources:

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