419 scam: Stephen Badu <randyandmother@gmail.com> Letter To You

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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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- sbesq.direct@rediffmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Stephen Badu <randyandmother@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 00:27:33 -0700
Subject: Letter To You

Hello,

I saw your contact information in E-Commerce Journal while I was searching
for a potential next of kin. I am Stephen Badu, from Republic of Ghana. I
had a client who was an independent gold dealer, lived in Europe and died
in Ghana, had businesses in Ghana and the Middle East. He has in a dormant
account a total of ($5.9 MILLION DOLLARS) deposit, held in a Finance house
in Europe.

I received official letters from the bank last week suggesting a likely
proceeding for the confiscation of this abandoned personal asset; in line
with European financial laws. On this note, I decided once more to search
for a potential person who share the same last name with him (however
distant). Information from the National Immigration stated that he was
alone on entry into Ghana. He had neither a wife nor children.

I need your consent to present you as the Inheritor, because you share the
same last name with him. If you agree to work with me, the fund will be
transferred to you, for me and you, to share based on percentage %.

To indicate your interest to stand as the Inheritor, send your response to
the e-mail address, I, have provided as follows:
sbesq.direct@rediffmail.com

Faithfully,

Mr. Stephen A. Badu esq.

Restorative Justice

Int.Financial Fiduciary (Attorney-At-Law)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam