419 scam: "WILLIAM B. WELSTEAD MANAGER" <pauljohn936@yahoo.cn> URGENT ATTENTION IS NEEDED IF YOU ARE STILL ALIVE

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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:

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)
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "the 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)
- "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)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "WILLIAM B. WELSTEAD MANAGER" <pauljohn936@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: customsserviss@helixnet.cn
Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2013 05:00:02 +0800 (CST)
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION IS NEEDED IF YOU ARE STILL ALIVE

CUSTOMS SERVICES USA AUTHORITY COUNTRY

DIRECTOR OFFICE IN CHARFE.

WILLIAM B. WELSTEAD

DFW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

3200 EAST AIRFIELD DFW TX 75261

ATTENTTION: MY DEAR FRIEND.

PLEASE THERE IS SOMETHING BEWILDERED WHICH I DO NOT UNDERSTOOD, WHO IS THIS YOUR
FAMILY BROTHER MR.EDWARD GREGORY) TRYING TO MAKE US BELIEVE THAT YOU DIED IN A
CAR ACCIDENT LAST MONTHS DECEMBER 22/12/2012 WHEN YOU ARE TRAVELING FOR CHRISTMAS
HOLIDAY WITH YOUR FAMILY

HE EXPLAINED THAT YOU ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH HIM THEREBY MAKING HIM THE
CURRENT BENEFICIARY OF THE CONSIGNMENT BOX .YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOX WHICH WAS
CONFISCATED BY THIS US CUSTOM OFFICE IN DALLAS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TX LAST
YEAR.

HE CLAIMED TO BE YOUR NEXT OF KIN AND HE IS HERE TO SEND THE NEEDED FEE OF $68
TO BENIN REPUBLIC FOR THE ISSURANCE OF THE ORIGINAL AWARD OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATE
DOCUMENTS,THAT IS WHY I AM WRITING THIS MESSAGE TO YOU TODAY, IN VIEW OF THIS
DEVELOPMENT. YOU ARE REQUESTED TO CONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE THE TRUTH OF THIS
MATTER, WHETHER YOU ARE DEAD OR ALIVE BEFORE WE RELEASE THE CONSIGNMENT BOX

I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU AND TO VERIFY WHETHER YOU ARE ALIVE BEFORE WE CAN ALLOW
HIM TO SEND THE THE $68 FOR THE MAN IN CHARGE OF THE CERTIFICATE OF OWNERSHIP
MR. PAUL EZE. PLEASE, DO CONFIRM TO ME, AS A MATTER OF URGENCY IF THIS MAN IS
REALLY FROM YOU SO THAT THIS OFFICE WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING
WRONG PERSON.

BE ADVICE THAT WE ARE READY TO RELEASE YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOX TO MR.EDWARD
GREGORY AND I DON'T THINK YOU WILL BLAME ANY PERSON IF THIS HAPPEN BECAUSE YOU
HAVE ALREADY PAID SUM MONEY TO THE GOVERMENT OF BENIN REPUBLIC IN THE PAST,
THAT IS ALL I NEED TO TELL YOU NOW. PLEASE YOU SHOULD RESPOND URGENTLY TO
ENABLE US TO KNOW WHETHER WHETHER IF YOU ARE DEAD OR ALIVE BEFORE WE RELEASE
THE CONSIGNMENT BOX BECAUSE THERE IS NUMEROUS SCAM THAT IS GOING ON IN THE
WORLD TODAY WHICH YOU MUST BE AWARE OF.

IF YOU ARE ALIVE AND VERY SURE THAT YOU DID SENT MR.EDWARD GREGORY AS AN
INSIDER IN THIS FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, GO AHEAD NOW TO SEND THE $68 WITH THE
PAYMENT INFORMATIONS IN ORDER TO ENABLE BENIN HIGH COURT OBTAIN THIS NEEDED
CERTIFICATES SO THAT YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOX WILL BE DELIVERED TO YOUR ADDRESS TO
AVIOD LOSING YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOX.

HERE IS THE INFORMATION YOU CAN USE TO SEND THE $68.00

RECEIVER NAME: UDEZUO EMMANUEL

CITY.............. COTONOU

COUNTRY.........BENIN REPUBLIC

TEST QUESTION:.............URGENT

ANSWER:..................... URGENT

AMOUNT:$68.00

MTCN No#.....

YOUR OUR CONSIGNMENT BOX IS HERE FOR LONGTIME NOW DUE TO YOUR DELAY AFTER THE
DIPLOMAT AGENT ARRIVE FROM AFRICAN WITH THE OUR CONSIGNMENT BOX AND WE ARE TO
GIVE YOU 1-2 BUSINESS DAYS? WE NEED IT AT THE OFFICE WITHIN 1-2 BUSINESS DAYS
OR WE WELL RELEASED YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOX TO THE MR.EDWARD GREGORY

THANK AND GOD BLESS.

BEST REGARDS

WILLIAM B. WELSTEAD MANAGER

CUSTOMS SERVICES USA AUTHORITY COUNTRY

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam