419 scam: MR WILLIAM BARRY <mrwilliambary@gmail.com> ATTENTION PLEASE

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "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)
- "with absolute secrecy" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: MR WILLIAM BARRY <mrwilliambary@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2017 22:23:28 +0000
Subject: ATTENTION PLEASE

Dear Friend, I am sorry for this interruption. I have no other way to
reach you than these ways if the contents here under are contrary to
your moral ethics. Please accept my apology, but treat with absolute
secrecy and personal. Once again accept my apology for sending you
unsolicited anti-spam mail it was a result of my slow connection from
our Telecommunication. I am Mr. William Barry, Burkina Faso by
Nationalist and a reputable Banker.

I occupied the position of Foreign Accountant Director, UNITED BANK
FOR AFRICA (U.B.A).

Honestly, i have business transaction worth the sum of
(US$8,200,000.00) Eight Million two hundred thousand united state
dollars to transfer to you through proper documentation in position of
your own Account.

This transaction is risk-free; please urgently confirm your
willingness and interest to assist in this deal, waiting for your
immediate respond.

Thanks and best regard,

MR.WILLIAM BARRY.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam