419 scam: "Sarah Williams"<info@mail.com> Family Update / Sarah Williams

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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.
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Sarah Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lsarah@e-mail.ua>
Date: Wed, 5 Jun 2013 13:49:39 -0700
Subject: Family Update / Sarah Williams

Dear,

Compliment of the season. I wish you everlasting joy, peace and happiness. I deemed it right to contact you based on the content of my late father's WILL. The estate of my late father in Europe is what I want to discuss with you; I know you will be of great assistance and the benefits that follows.

I know you are not in Europe, but in America, the reason I contacted is based on your experience in business and investment which I know you will hold the funds in trust. I really find it hard to communicate this to you based on what goes on on the internet, we have not met before which makes it more difficult to trust and what is required here is total trust, from your side and from my side. But my spirit is at rest sharing this with you.

I need your assistance urgently as my late father's brothers are after this and I need to secure it.

Thanks
Sarah

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam