419 scam: BARR JAMES WILLIAM <fileoffice562@yahoo.com.au> $5 BILLION USD ON YOUR NAME

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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:
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- +22997581606 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- barristerjameswilliam@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: BARR JAMES WILLIAM <fileoffice562@yahoo.com.au>
Reply-To: BARR JAMES WILLIAM <barristerjameswilliam@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 4 Oct 2014 18:29:40 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: $5 BILLION USD ON YOUR NAME

Â Central Bank of the Benin (CBB)Office Location: 1-2 Ecowas AvenueBanjul,Benin.Phone Number +229 97 58 16 06.
Dear Client,
The West Africa Monetary Agency re-called your ($5billion) five billion U.Sdollars from Credit Suisse Zurich, Switzerland due to lark of funddocumentation. Now that the fund have been documented, the central bankgovernor have agreed with West Africa Monetary Agency WAMA`s director ofoperation to release your $5billion US Dollars.
The Central banks have to issue you a check, but the checks have to becleared in one local bank here in Benin. And since you are not here in theBenin you are required to open a non resident bank account here in Beninunder (Guaranteed Trust bank) and make sure the account is activated. Soonas the bank account is opened on your name, activate the account and sendyour account detail to Central bank for your check to be issued and sent tothe GTbank. Ones the check is cleared, your amount will be credited intoyour bank account which will enable you make withdrawals from yourlocation.
The Central bank and WAMA have appointed New Director barrister JamesWilliam ESQ to assist you. His E-mail: (barristerjameswilliam@yahoo.com)therefore contact him immediately.
Sincerely yours,Barr James William,Public relation officer,Central Bank of the Benin.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam