419 scam: "Mr Kelvin Williams"<test@mail.laneton.com> Dear Beneficiary........ (ARE YOU DEAD OR STILL ALIVE)ë¸"

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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:
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- +2348068472453 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Kelvin Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info.kelvinwilly3@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 09:07:21 +0100
Subject: Dear Beneficiary........ (ARE YOU DEAD OR STILL ALIVE)

Dear Beneficiary,

We receive an email that you are dead and you ask one Albert R J Pitre to come and claim your of (5million, five hundred thousand United States dollars. ($5.5,000, 000.00USD). Funds that has been with us since 1 month now and he has also agreed to pay for the Dumorage fee which is $150 UNITED STATE DOLLARS, so I am writing you to know if you are (DEAD OR ALIVE), if you do not reply back before 48hrs we will have no other alternative that to believe that are truly dead according to Albert R J Pitre.

Please take note that you have been given just 48hrs to get back to us so that we can know if you are alive, and fill the Information Below.
Name and Surname:
Driver License
Age:
House Address:
Phone Number
Occupation:
Call me +2348068472453.

Regards.
Mr Kelvin Williams..

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam