419 scam: "MARK WILLIAMS" <markwilliams122@yahoo.com> d

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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.
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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- markwilliams133@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MARK WILLIAMS" <markwilliams122@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: markwilliams133@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 30 May 2011 12:02:33 +0300 (EAT)
Subject: d

Dear Friend,
markwilliams133@yahoo.com

I am Mark Williams , I believe that this name sounds strange to you, I am
sorry for sending unsolicited mail to you, but notwithstanding, Please do
not see this letter as a junk nor joke.

I don’t know how familiar you are with the uprising crisis in Libya, but I
am contacting on behalf of my boss Muhammad Al-Gaddafi the eldest son of
Muammar Al-Gaddafi, the Libya Leader.

Due to the ongoing crisis in Libya, he has instructed me to look for a
reliable foreign business partner who will stand to assist in receiving a
total sum of Forty Five Million United States Dollars (US$45M) for
investment in your country.

This decision came as a result of the UN resolution to freeze all fund
assets belonging to all member of their family and close associates
including ban traveling.

For more information, please you can visit; http://www.theglobeandmail.
com/news/world/africa-mideast/ un-council-imposes-travel-
bans-on-libyan-leaders- freezes-assets/article1922279/

Read more;
http://www.news.com.au/business/breaking-news/britain-us-switzerland-freeze-
libyan-leader-moamar-ghadafi- assets/story-e6frfkur- 1226013243353

This money was made for purchasing of agricultural equipments from London
in united kingdom but due to the ongoing crisis, they don’t want the
international community's to have trace on this fund as it was deposited
with a security company in London with his name.

He said, he is willing to offer you 30% of the total fund only if you can
keep secret and assist us to move this fund to your country for investment
purpose.

Subject to your satisfaction, if you are serious, willing to work with us,
all you need to do is to send to me the following.
1. Your full name and address
2. Your private phone and mobile number, if possible get a new sim card
for our communication.
3. Scan copy of your identity for us to be sure of whom we are dealing with.

Upon the receipt of your information, I will get back to him to enable him
give me power of authority to make change of ownership of the fund to your
name.

I am presently in London because of this assignment and i will like us to
meet one on one for you to see things yourself and confirm the
authenticity of this project,

NOTE: YOUR AREA OF BUSINESS IS IRRELEVANT TO THIS TRANSACTION AS OUR AIM
OBJECTIVE IS TO SAFE GUILD THE FUND AGAINST TRACE.

All documentation related to this transaction will be made available to
you Upon the receipt of your information, I will call you for further
explanation as soon as i hear from you

Thank you
Mark Williams. Esq.
markwilliams133@yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam