419 scam: "Mr. William Akara"<webofficce78@att.net> GET BACK TO ME NOW.

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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 state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. William Akara" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.williamakara@ymail.com>
Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2011 00:25:53 -0000
Subject: GET BACK TO ME NOW.

Hello,

Please take the content of this letter very serious,

I am a banker and also a part time contractor attached to Wilcox construction company Ltd, a private company located in Accra region.

Having consulted with my colleague and based on the information gathered regarding an over invoiced fund in the bank, I have the privilege to request for your assistance to be our partner in the transfer of USD$16,780 Million United State Dollars into your account for a construction project we submitted to be awarded to us.

We are now ready to transfer the fund overseas and that is where you come in. It is important to inform you that as civil servants we are forbidden to operate a foreign account; that is why we require your assistance and to help assist in the construction work when awarded to us. The total sum will be shared as follows: 70% for us, 25% for you and 5% for local and international expenses incident to the transfer.

The transfer is risk free on both sides, if you find this proposal acceptable; we shall require the following documents:
.
(b) Your private telephone and fax numbers -- for confidentiality and easy communication.
(c) Your letter-headed paper stamped and signed.

Alternatively we will furnish you with the text of what to type into your letter-headed paper, along with a breakdown explaining comprehensively what we require of you. The business transfer will take us 22 working days to accomplish.

Regard,
Mr. William Akara

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam