419 scam: "Mrs. Hilda Williams"<hlidawillaim@yahoo.fr> MY DEAR GOOD FRIEND

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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:
- "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. )
- "million us 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)
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 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.
- +22999169166 (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.
- officewestern56@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Hilda Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sanchezbruce11@outlook.com>
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2015 08:11:09 -0700
Subject: MY DEAR GOOD FRIEND

ATTENTION

We have concluded to effect your payment through western union money transfer and we will be sending you the sum $5,000.00 until the total sum of $1.2 MILLION USD is completely transferred to you accordingly.it means that you will be receiving the sum $ 5,000.00 dollars twice a day,Mrs Mary gate has sent you $5,000.00 in your name today so,

You have to contact Western Union Office; we receive Instruction to pay you the sum of 1.2 million us dollars from Diamond Bank Due to delay over your fund, we deiced that you will be receiving the sum of $ 5,500 us dollars every 3 hours which means you will be receiving the sum of $ 10,000 .00 us dollars pay day.

So all you need to do now is to send us your information on how to send you fund to you such as

You’re Name ……………
Your county ……………..
Your state………………..
Your direct phone number………….

So that we will know that you are the name above in your file
And bear in mind that you will send the sum of $68 us dollar for the activation of your fund,

NOTE; this payment has been instructed by the Ministry Of Finance you must undergo due process once you get in contact to enable them authenticate the legitimacy of your funds.

The IMF commission who set up this payment programmer is now waiting for confirmation so hasten up and give the agent a call to process your funds at once.Please do not forget to update me as soon as you receive this first payment.

Once again congratulations

Yours in service

Mr.Sanchez Goodman
Email officewestern56@yahoo.com;
Phone Number...+229 99169166
Director Diamond bank plc Republic of Benin.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam