419 scam: Money Transfer <kenwilliamsdept@hotmail.com> URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL / PRIVATE

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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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- +27737403331 (South Africa, 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.
- kenwilliamsdept@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- kenwilliamsdept@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Money Transfer <kenwilliamsdept@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 08 May 2008 20:23:51 +0200
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL / PRIVATE

/URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL / PRIVATE<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>/

/ //FROM MR. KEN WILLIAMS<o:p></o:p>/

/TEL/ +27 73 740 3331 <o:p></o:p>/

/PRIVATE E-MAIL: kenwilliamsdept@yahoo.com [mailto:kenwilliamsdept@yahoo.com]/

/ :kenwilliamsdept@hotmail.com//<o:p></o:p>/

/ <o:p></o:p>/

/ <o:p></o:p>/

/DEAR FRIEND,<o:p></o:p>/

/ <o:p></o:p>/

/I am Ken Williams, an Auditor General in one of the major leading Banks in South Africa. In my Bank, I discovered an abandoned large sum of money USD$18M (Eighteen Million United State Dollars) belonging to one of our late Foreign Customer since 1999 nobody has operated this account.<o:p></o:p>/

/ <o:p></o:p>/

/The owner of this account is MR.SEAN BURKE, an American National, also a businessman based in South Africa, who was involved in an air crash in August 2000. <o:p></o:p>/

/ <o:p></o:p>/

/Please confirm from this web site to know more.<o:p></o:p>/

/ <o:p></o:p>/

/http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9708/06/guam.passenger.list<o:p></o:p>/

/ <o:p></o:p>/

/I am basically writing to you to seek your Sincere Co-operation to present you as the only sole business partner beneficiary to this deceased<o:p></o:p>/

/Name (Mr. Sean Burke) since he specified no beneficiary, and no other person knows about this Account. <o:p></o:p>/

/ <o:p></o:p>/

/The Strategy/plan is to use my influence<o:p></o:p>/

/As Auditor of the bank to approve the funds to you. <o:p></o:p>/

/ <o:p></o:p>/

/If you are keen/interested let me know so that I can explain further details and next procedure/modalities more precisely and the share ratio.<o:p></o:p>/

/ <o:p></o:p>/

/Please do contact with this my private e-mail address: kenwilliamsdept@hotmail.com [mailto:kenwilliamsdept@hotmail.com]// , kenwilliamsdept@yahoo.com //and telephone numbers //TEL/+27 73 740 3331// for further details <o:p></o:p>/

/ <o:p></o:p>/

/Sincere Regards.<o:p></o:p>/

/ <o:p></o:p>/

/Mr. Ken Williams.<o:p></o:p>/

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam