419 scam: "Barrister Greg Willams" <info@williams.com> (no subject)

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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:

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:
- "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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- +2348080298440 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barrister Greg Willams" <info@williams.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: fedex.shippingdepartment02@live.com
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 02:45:56 -0700 (PDT)
Subject:

Attn:

I have deposited your MasterCard with our local FedEx Delivery
Services offices. I've paid the insurance and delivery charges, but a safe
keeping fee of US $198.00 is required before the package can be delivered to
you. You must pay this fee to authenticate your delivery address.

Please send your full name, home address and telephone to FedEx's delivery
manager, Oliver Collins at fedex.shippingdepartment02@live.com , Telephone
number: +234 808 029 8440,
referring to shipment code CPEL/OWN/9856. Mr. Collins does not know the
contents of the package;
for security I've identified the contents as African magazines.

The MasterCard has been loaded with US $800,000.00 from the Central Bank of
Africa and its PIN is 8876. Once you receive the card, you can use it at
any ATM to withdraw up to US $20,000.00 per day.

I do hope you'll take care of this transaction as soon as possible.
Unfortunately you will not be able to reach me as I've been called out of
the country on business.

Regards,
Greg Williams, Esq.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam