419 scam: "Mr Samuel Richards"<samuel.richards23@gmail.com> From Samuel Richards(Your Response Is Required)

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "necessary legal documents" (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. )
- "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)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Samuel Richards" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <talktosammi19@mail.kz>
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 2011 06:10:28 +0100
Subject: From Samuel Richards(Your Response Is Required)

From the Desk of Mr. Samuel Richards
Attention:-Sir/Madam

I am an Accountant with a bank here in Ghana, My name is Mr. Samuel Richards, I am the personal Account Manager to a Saudi Arabian who used to work with (SHELL PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY) as an Expatriate. Here in after shall be referred to as my client. On 23rd October 2005, My client, his wife, and their three children were involved in a plane crash. View this website so that you will see and understand me
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/africa/10/23/nigeria.plane/

Since then I have made several inquiries to the embassy to locate any of my clients extended Relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family and could not find any hence I contacted you.

I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where these huge deposits are lodged. Where the deceased had an account Valued at about $18,472,000 US Dollars. My bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next ten working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at $18,472,000 US Dollars can be paid to you in any account in any part of the world that you provide to the bank and then you and me can share the money. 60% to me and 40% to you.

An attorney will be contracted to help us revalidate and notarize all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Note: I will like you to contact me through my alternative email address for security reason so here is the email address : talktosammi19@mail.kz

Please reply me with your Name, Address and Direct Telephone Number

Best Regards,
Mr. Samuel Richards.

Anti-fraud resources:

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