419 scam: GERALD WELSH <gerawelsh@yahoo.com> Re: Vital Information!!!

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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:
- "a security company " (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)
This email message is a orphan 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.
- gerawelsh@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: GERALD WELSH <gerawelsh@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: gerawelsh@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 03 Apr 2010 17:14:06 +0100
Subject: Re: Vital Information!!!

Dear

I hope this message reaches you in good health.-- (Amen).
To start with, permit me to introduce myself to you. I am GERALD WELSH
I am from Guinea.

My father Hon.Lansana Gerald Conte the director of Conte Timber
Company and the one time special adviser to the Minister of Natural
Resources was murdered by an opposition Leader during the previous
Crisis in my country(Republic of Guinea).

Before the death of my father(Hon.Lansana Conte) during the early
stage of the war of my country, he revealed a secret to my mother that
he deposited 40Million USD as a family precious box with a security
company in the Republic of Ghana. He ask my mother and I to leave
Guinea and come to Ghana, where we can find refugee and have peace
for our dear lives.

Having a meeting with my late father's Ghanaian lawyer, he told my
mother and I that all vital documents as regards to the deposit and
claim of this consignment in the security company was handed over to
him by my late father.

We went to the security company for the claim of this consignment but
we could not make the claim due to my father's laid down will for me
to consult by his foreign business partner before the release of the
consignment which my father did not disclose to us before his untimely
death.

Now as the next of kin and the only surviving child who is presently
with my mother(Mrs.Marry Conte) in the United Nations refugee
camp(Bujumbura) Ghana, i seek for your humanitarian assistance to
enable us claim this consignment in your name as the foreign
beneficiary and help us receive this family precious box(consignment)
in your country while you invite me over to you for the sharing and
investment in a lucrative production or business in your country as it
is the laid down instruction by my late father for me to consult his
foreign partner who will guide me in the investment in his country due
to Africa political crisis and instability in the African economy.

Mistrust is like an axe on the tree of partnership but since only God
could ordain trust, I will be very grateful to Him to build up such a
relationship with you in accordance to his will.

I promise you with all sincerity and a heart full of thankfulness to
God that I shall give you all true love and respect and I would be
grateful to God the almighty if you will be kind, understanding and
trustworthy enough to help get a better life.

I promise to give you 20% of the total fund and 15% per-annul in the
investment as your benefit of assisting me a young refugee and a
fatherless child attains a better life.

Email: (gerawelsh@gmail.com)

God bless as I expect your reply and thanks in advance.

My mother extends her greetings
Sincerely,

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam