419 scam: Steven Peterson <ksambrana@gmail.com> 11/13/2013

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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 447937017798
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.
- richardypeters@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Steven Peterson <ksambrana@gmail.com>
Reply-To: <richardypeters@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 22:30:30 -0800
Subject: 11/13/2013

Greetings,

We contacted you because we have been in search for a relative of our late client - Andrew . We have been very unsuccessful so far as we have searched Facebook, online telephone directories and other resources.

We cannot ascertain if you are directly related to the late Andrew but we are taking a chance to contact you because you bear the same last names with him. We are not disclosing his details yet until we hear from you.

Until his death, he had vast investments in the Oil sector in Qatar. He was aged 59, never married and had no kids. He died in the 2011 earthquake in Japan. His financial investments in one of the banks are on the verge of being declared non-transferable.

We are in dire need to file for the release of this inheritance funds in value of US$10.5 Million. In the event that you are not in any way related to him, we humbly ask for your assistance in partnering with us to get the funds released in your name. We had a legal tussle with the financial institution where the funds were invested and the recent court ruling swung in our favor. The bank has been mandated to release the funds to anyone we bring forward. Because you bear the same last names as Andrew, it becomes easy to present you as his next of kin for this inheritance. As executors of his estate, we are poised to see that the funds are not held back by the bank.

I'm proposing a 50-50 split when we get the funds out. I sincerely hope this is something you can partner with us on. We do not have time on our hands as we need to file a claim immediately.

Please would you be kind enough to provide the following information to enable us take further action on this inheritance.

1. FULL NAMES

2. CONTACT MAILING ADDRESS

3. OCCUPATION.

4. CONFIRMATION OF YOUR MOBILE NUMBER

Please have your email sent to : richardypeters@gmail.com

Richard S. Peterson

For

SJ Berwin LLP

10 Queen Street Place

London EC4R 1BE

UK

www.sjberwin.com

Tel: 44-79370-177-98

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam