419 scam: williams williams <williams43

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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:
- "million pounds" (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: williams williams <williams43_538@msn.com>
Reply-To: <william@strompost.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:06:09 +0000
Subject: Greetings,

Greetings,
I write to request your co-operation in my desire to find a
foreign partner who will assist me in the relocation
and investment of the sum of (£15,000.000.00) fiffteen
million pounds,which is presently available and in my
possession.Though I have not met with you before but I
believe,one has to risk confiding in someone to succeed
sometime in life. Presently, I am a serving government
functionary in my Native Country. The money was realised
from gratification/kickbacks which was received from foreign
contractors who executed contracts for my country in the
last 2 years.

I am unable to travel out now,so I shall be glad if you can
stand as beneficiary to receive this money abroad,and also
nominate a good investment facility in your country where
the fund will be placed,for profits making.I am offering you
40% of total sum after the transfer.The entire plan and
documents of this transaction will be forwarded to you as
soon as I receive your positive response. I also want to
assure you that there is no risk attach to you in this
business.Let me have your Full Name, private Telephone, Fax
and Mobile
Numbers and also your Contact Address in
response to this proposal if you are interested.

Sir.Williams Gordon

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam