419 scam: samantha williams <samantha_williams@rambler.ru> Greetings to you in the name of our lord Jesus Christ,

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "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. )
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
This email message is a "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: samantha williams <samantha_williams@rambler.ru>
Reply-To: samanthawilliams457@hotmail.fr
Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2012 07:13:33 +0800 (CST)
Subject: Greetings to you in the name of our lord Jesus Christ,

Greetings to you in the name of our lord Jesus Christ,

I have contacted you after going through your profile, I prayed over it and selected your name among other names due to its Esteeming nature and the recommendations given to me as a reputable and trust worthy person that I can do business with and By the recommendation, I must not hesitate to confide in you for this simple and sincere business. I am Mrs Samantha Williams from Australia, A widow to late David Williams, I am 52 years old. I am now a new Christian convert suffering from long time cancer of the breast.

From all indication my conditions is really deteriorating and it is quite obvious that I may not live more than 2 months, according to my doctors. This is because the cancer stage has gotten to a very bad stage. My late husband was very wealthy business man and after his death, I inherited all his business empire because the two children in which I Gave birth to, Are no more. The doctors has advised me that I may not live for more than 2 months, so I now decided to divide the part of this wealth, to contribute to the development of the church in Africa, America Asia, and Europe.

I selected you after visiting the website and I prayed over it. I am willing to donate the sum of $2.900.000.00usd (Two million, Nine hundred thousand United States dollars) to the less privileged. Please I want you to note that this fund is presently lying in a Security Company here in (Abidjan Ivory Coast). As soon as I hear from you, I will forward to you all the information you will use to get this fund released from the Security Company to your country for this mission.

Honestly pray that this money when transferred to your Country will be used for the said purpose, because I have come to find out that wealth acquisition without Christ is vanity. May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you and your family Amen?

Await your urgent reply to me your sister in Christ.

The Blessing of God is with you,

Mrs Samantha Williams.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam