419 scam: "Mr. Tom Williams."<williams@hotmail.com> YOUR INHERITANCE FUND.

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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:
- "million 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 next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Tom Williams." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tomwilliamsesq004@e-mail.cz>
Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2011 21:42:55 +1000
Subject: YOUR INHERITANCE FUND.

My dear,

Please I am contacting you based on my late clients inheritance fund which you happen to be the next of kin from my personal research to locate the inheritor of late (Mr.Micheal Herman) 52yrs old.

Since The board of Directors of the CREDIT TRUST BANK have been unsuccessful in locating my client relatives for sometime now, it's on this note that I seek your consent to present you as the relation/next of kin to my late client that the proceed of this deposit can be released into your account. The amount deposited is $12.8 Million Dollars also I believe with interest. I will agree with you on 60% for you while 40% for me.

My name is Mr. Tom Williams please get back to me as soon as possible with the details below:

Your full name and address

Your telephone and fax numbers

Your occupation and age

Your international passport/personal ID/Drivers license. Any of these can be used for identification as the next of kin to Late Michael Herman.

As soon as I receive your email with the details I will update you with the details as the next of kin to my late client Mr.Micheal Herman.

PLEASE AFTER READING THIS MAIL GET BACK TO ME VIA THIS E-MAIL: TomWilliams0017@gmx.com

I'm at your service,

Mr. Tom Williams.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam