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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "William R Howell" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <williamslhowell@yahoo.fr>
Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 00:59:52 +0200
Subject: Letter From William Howell

ExxonMobil Corporation
ExxonMobil House
Ermyn Way
Leatherhead
Surrey KT22 8UX
United Kingdom

Hello,

I'm William R. Howell, an Executive Member of the Audit and Compensation Committee of ExxonMobil in London ( http://www.exxonmobil.co.uk). I have a
sensitive and private brief from the Senior Executives of this top oil company in need of your partnership to re-profile funds amounting to £50Million GBP.
(Fifty Million British Pounds sterling).I will let you have the details as you get back to me immediately, the fund shall be paid to you through our
operating financial institution where it is presently deposited as soon as the legalization and documentation process is concluded in your name.

I feel quite safe dealing with you in this business proposition although,this medium(Internet)has been greatly abused,I choose to reach you through it
because it still remains the fastest,surest and most secured medium of communication.However,this Correspondence is unofficial and private, and it
should be treated as such.I wish to inform you that this letter is not a hoax or Scam mail and I urge you to treat it with the seriousness it deserves. I
also guarantee you that this deal is hitch free from all what you may think of,Following my idea that we can have a deal/agreement and I am going to do
this legally with your name as the bonafide beneficiary of the amount in question by employing the service of a UK accredited attorney, who will handle
all the legal documentations and lay claims through his legal authority on your behalf.

Listen 40% of this money will be for you,in respect to the provision of a foreign account and 50% for me as i have planned to come to your Country as
soon as the transfer is completed.

My Conditions:

1) The sum of £50M only will be transfered into your account after the processing of all relevant legal documents with your name as the bonafide
beneficiary,the transfer will be made by telegraphic Transfer(T/T),conformable in 7 working days.

2)This deal must be kept secret forever, and all correspondence will be strictly by email/telephone, for security purposes.

3)There should be no third parties as most problem associated with your fund release are caused by your agents or representative. If you Agree with my
conditions,i will advise you on what to do immediately and the transfer will commence without delay as I will proceed to fix your name on the Payment
schedule instantly to meet the 7 working days mandate.

I hope you don't reject this offer and have this fund transferred.

Waiting for your reply soon.

Warmest Regards
William R. Howell

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