419 scam: "KATHERINE WILLIAMS"<williams@yahoo.com> RE: PAYMENT APPROVAL/CONGRATULATIONS

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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 united states 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "KATHERINE WILLIAMS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <katherinewilliams1@live.com>
Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2011 06:51:41 -0700
Subject: RE: PAYMENT APPROVAL/CONGRATULATIONS

The Financial Services Authority (FSA)
25 The North Colonnade, Canary Wharf,
London E14 5HS
Email: katherinewilliams1@live.com

RE: PAYMENT ON OVER DUE INHERITANCE,LOTTO/LOTTERY WINING,CONTRACT PAYMENT $10,000,000.00 (TEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY)

Sir, The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is the regulator of the financial services industry in the UK. Based on the numerous complains and petitions received by the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Bank of England. This institution has been mandated to look into these affairs properly.

It is our pleasure to inform you that after various investigations and scrutinization carried out, your email address fail into the category of the micro chip generated by Google search engine as a category “A” beneficiary that is being owed for payment. We are aware that people like you that has an outstanding inheritance payment, lotto/lottery winners, foreign contractors has suffered under the cuffs of unscrupulous officials either here in the United Kingdom or overseas trying to receive what rightfully belongs to them.

The Financial Services Authorities (FSA) has been instructed to submit the names of all outstanding beneficiaries for immediate payment to the Bank of England. You are here by advised to submit the following at once.

1. YOUR FULL
2. YOUR ADDRESS
3. YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER

Once we receive the above information’s from you, we shall keep you updated and inform you on when funds will be wired into your account.

Be guided accordingly

Best Regards

Katherine Williams
Secretary, Financial Services
Authority UK

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam