419 scam: "Dr.James Williams Welstead" <Welstead.@guitar.ocn.ne.jp> U.S. Immigration And Customs Enforcement

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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "international court of justice" (not involved with lotteries)
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "western union" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "trunk boxes" (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)
- "i will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- inheritancetransfer@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr.James Williams Welstead" <Welstead.@guitar.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Dr.James Williams Welstead" <inheritancetransfer@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2016 18:09:34 +0900 (JST)
Subject: U.S. Immigration And Customs Enforcement

U.S. Immigration And Customs Enforcement
Los Angeles International Airport
3200 East Alfield Los California 75261
Director's Office In Charge
Dr. James Williams Welstead

Attention: Honorable Beneficiary

I am here to update you that information reaching us from our Attorney Mr.
Davis Ryan from Supreme Court of California said that the Honorable chief
judge of international court of justice Mr.Peter Philip has declare Mr.
Thomas Allen an innocent and they will released him from jail on Wednesday
and hand him over your Consignment Box worth of $15.5million as representative,

Mr.Thomas Allen is your Attorney and 53 years old and 4.3 inches tall, he is
located at 0801 9th Avenue North California city. Mr. Thomas Allen. The Los
Angeles Airport Customs said that if you the beneficiary has not comply
under 24hrs that all your effort to receive your consignment trunk boxes
will be in vain to another man's favor.

As Mr.Thomas Allen told the Supreme Court of California at the first time
that you left all your title on his care as your next of kin, Based on
board of directors meeting,they have concluded to approve the consignment
Trunk Boxes on favor of your representative Mr. Thomas Allen due to he have
submitted all the documentation to the Supreme Court of California and
passport for evidence that you left all your title on his care as your next of kin to
take care of your children.

I have been doing my best here to assist you in receiving your consignment
trunk boxes so that money you have spent on this delivery will not be in
vain and I'm believing that you are a reliable person, and I trusted
you to be a good person, that is why I have been protecting your
consignment trunk boxes, handling it as if it is mine,

However. we need your absolute co-operation with the payment information
$105 to obtained the needed certificate from Benin Customs Head Office as
the orignin of your consignment trunk boxes to enable diplomat make the
delivery to your home address today.

I will advice you to try all you could to make sure you send the fee
today,you can even looking for way to borrow it there and send it asap and
receive your consignment Trunk Boxes and pay any body or person that you
have been borrowed from.

However, Kindly use the western union money transfer(WU)receiver's
details below to effect this fee as soon as you receive this notification
response today so as to facility shipment of your Consignment Box to your
doorstep as quickly as possible:

Receiver's Data / information:

Receiver's Name:Peter Ekeson
City Location: Cotonou
Country: Benin Republic
Text Question: When
Answer: Today
Sender's Name...
MTCN#...
Amount $105

If they receive the fee, I assure you that you are going to confirm your
package WITHIN 7HRS through our choosing Diplomatic Agent.

I shall try my possible best to make sure you receive your consignment Boxes
today. and will like you to Take my word because i am strong behide you and
my effort to this does not end until you confirm the availability of your
fund in your hands.

Yours sincerely
Dr.James Williams Welstead
Contact Email(inheritancetransfer@gmail.com)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam