419 scam: "Williams Umeh"<williamsumeh522@yahoo.com> I NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU

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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:
- "western union" (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. )
- "account opening" (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.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: "Williams Umeh" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <umeh_williams@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2012 08:44:31 -0700
Subject: I NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU

Sir,

My name is Mr. Williams Umeh, the head of foreign operation department of the Crediting Bank Plc Ghana . Sir, there are some international representatives that flew to Ghana to transform Ghana banks and they mandated the Crediting bank Plc Ghana to handle the payment of all unpaid Ghana foreign beneficiaries and your name and email is included.

My reason of contacting you is that your fund file worth US$57M (Fifty seven million United States dollars) is here in the Crediting Bank for immediate release.

This bank has concluded that the easiest way which we can release this fund to you is through our online banking system. What I’m trying to explain to you is that we will open an online banking for you and credit the total sum of US$57MUSD into the account and your online account user’s name and password will be given to you which you will use to log in to the account then you will be transferring the fund into your account by your self.

We are not asking you to bring or pay for any document or charges ,only what you will do is to send the sum of 150$ for the account opening which also belong to you.

The 150$ for the online account opening should be paid through western union money transfer we will forward details to you Immediately we receive your details bellow.

Full Names...............

Age..........................

Occupation...............

Phone.................

Banking details

..............................

....................................

........................................

Immediately we receive the 150$ the online account will be open for you and you will be transferring this fund into your checking or company account.

Regards

Mr. Williams Umeh

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam