419 scam: Stephen Richardson <of847790@gmail.com> Urgent Update From FBI

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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:

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)
- "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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: Stephen Richardson <of847790@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Stephen Richardson <fbi.usa20535@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 13 Jan 2018 15:36:43 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Urgent Update From FBI

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS (F.B.I)
HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535-0001
FROM THE DESK OF STEPHEN E.RICHARDSON
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION,

Motto: Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity

Dear Elect

This is Stephen E.Richardson,Director Criminal Investigation Division(FBI), I was sent to Africa by the new (FBI) director Christopher Wray and the IMF director general Christine Lagarde to investigate fraudsters who are in the business of swindling everyone that has transactions in Africa.

This is to let you know that during our investigations we discovered a total amount of Usd$9,800,000.00 that has been assigned in your name as compensation for all your effort in trying to receive your overdue payment but those fraudsters are busy swindling you without any hope of receiving your fund,these are the works of the people who are extorting money from you in the name of transferring your inheritance fund,we have arrested some men in respect of this delayed over due payment, I have a very limited time to stay here in Africa so I advise you urgently respond to this message for the claim of your compensation fund.

Those criminals will be caught unaware and I don't want them to know this new development to avoid jeopardizing my investigations,you have to conceal anything that has to do with this exercise to enable me get all the necessary information's required and have them face the court of international law,I shall be expecting your swift response as soon as you receive this email and notify me of any message or phone call you receive from those criminals for me to investigate on it before you make any contact with them.

In case if found this message in spam folder, it could be due to your Internet Service Provider, ISP. So kindly move to your inbox before replying.

Warm Regards.
STEPHEN E.RICHARDSON
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS (F.B.I)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam