419 scam: "REV. KEN R. WOODS JP" <christarwray@gmail.com> ATTN DEAR BENEFICIARY

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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:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "consignment " (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)
- ",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)
- "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)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- revkenrwoodsjp1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "REV. KEN R. WOODS JP" <christarwray@gmail.com>
Reply-To: revkenrwoodsjp1@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2021 10:54:55 -0800
Subject: ATTN DEAR BENEFICIARY

I am REV. KEN R. WOODS JP, director cash processing unit, united bank
for Africa (UBA) the only bank appointed by the O.A.U members led by
John Kuffor the former president of Ghana.Due to ongoing fraud in west
Africa countries where some innocent beneficiaries were asked to pay
in advance before receiving their money. The above Africa union and
I.M.F held a meeting in Benin Republic and resolved to pay all
beneficiaries in cash through diplomatic courier service.

The union has approved and appointed United Bank For Africa
(UBA) to pay you the sum of ($5.500,000,00 USD) but due to ongoing
fraud in west Africa, we have taken (US$10,000) from your fund for
handling
charges.

Therefore the amount you will be expecting from the diplomat is
($5.490, 000.00 USD) AND NOT ($5,500,000.00 USD).

We have set up a plan to conclude this transaction with you; hence you
can give us maximum co-operation. We want you to stop further
communication with any person, Bank or courier that has promise to pay
you through bank to bank, western union, money gram, ATM card, even
check, do not listing to them because Benin Republic

financial institutions have prohibited such payment due to fraudulent
activities all over the country.

We also understood from the file that you have been dealing with the
fraudsters who has been extorting money from you, my dear as a senior
bank controlling this cash payment now, I advice you not to waste your
hard earn money by paying any body in advance again, and if you just
follow my instruction you will receive your money in three days
time.Your fund will be package in a consignment box and ship through
license diplomatic courier service. I will also send the picture of
your box via attachment to you, for you to view how the money was
package.
I will send you more mails to give you more information with my
international passport for you to know the genuine of this
transaction.

THEREFORE, QUICKLY FORWARD THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO ME FOR
IMMEDIATE DELIVERY:
YOUR FULL NAMES =======
HOME ADDRESS ==========
PHONE NUMBER ==========

To me at ( revkenrwoodsjp1@gmail.com )for immediate delivery.

All the documents will be sent to you, if I am assured that you have
stopped sending money to those fraudsters. But God will surely judge
all of them who live by cheating, my bible says what shall it profit a
man to gain the whole world and lose his precious soul? I am waiting
to hear from you with the required information.

REV. KEN R. WOODS JP
DIRECTOR CASH PROCESSING UNIT
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA
Email:

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam