419 scam: Charles Wood <woodcharles1@hotmail.com> CAN I TRUST 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.
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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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 "dying merchant" 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.
- charleswood005@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Charles Wood <woodcharles1@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <charleswood005@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2015 01:16:46 -0800
Subject: CAN I TRUST YOU

Dear Dear Sir/Madam,

As you read this, I don't want you to feel
sorry for me, because, I believe everyone will die someday. My name is
Charles Wood, a merchant in Dubai U.A.E.I have been diagnosed with
Esophageal Cancer which was discovered very late, due to my laxity in
caring for my health. It has defiled all forms of medicine, and right
now I have only about a few months to live, according to medical
experts. I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never
really cared for anyone not even myself but my business.

Though I
am very rich, I was never generous, I was always hostile to people and
only focused on my business as that was the only thing I cared for. But
now I regret all these as I now know that there is more to life than
just wanting to have or make all the money in the world. I believe when
gives me a second chance to come to this world I would live my life in a
different way from how I have lived it. Now that God has called me, I
have willed and given most of my! Properties and assets to my immediate
and extended family members and as well as a few close friends, I want
God to be merciful to me and accept my soul and so.

I have
decided to give arms to charity organizations and give succor and
comfort to the less privileged in our societies, as I want this to be
one of the last good deeds I will do on earth. So far, I have
distributed money to some charity organizations in the U.A.E, Algeria
and China. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do
this my self anymore. I once asked members of my family to close one of
my accounts and distribute the money which I have there to charity
organization and to the less privileged in Bulgaria and, they refused
and kept the money to themselves. Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as
they seem not too satisfied with what I have left for them. The last of
my money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of (US
$8.7,000,000.00 dollars) that I have with Prudent Security Bank here in
United Arab Emirates for safe keeping.

I will want you to help
me collect this deposit and disburse it to some charity organizations
and to the less privileged. Please send me a mail to indicate if you
will assist me in this disbursement. I have set aside 40% for you and
your time.

While I wait to hear from you, may God be with you and your entire family as you read and understanding.
charleswood005@gmail.com

Thanks in Anticipation

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam