419 scam: Dr John Williams <ambassador2peterwest@gmail.com> YOUR MONEY TRANSFER STATUES

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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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
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: Dr John Williams <ambassador2peterwest@gmail.com>
Reply-To: drjohnwilam@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2014 12:15:33 -0700
Subject: YOUR MONEY TRANSFER STATUES

NOTIFICATION
YOUR PAYMENT FILE WAS FORWARDED BACK TO US TODAY BY WESTERN UNION DEPARTMENT
FOR CANCELLATION,ACCORDING TO,MR KEN UTALLA OF WESTERN UNION WHO FORWARD IT TO
US,HE SAID THAT YOU REFUSED TO SEND THE REQUESTED $45 DOLLARS.

THE REASON WE DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU IS TO KNOW WHY YOU FAIL TO SEND THEM THE
REQUESTED $45,I WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE REASON FINANCE MINISTER
REDUCED THE TO AS LITTLE AS $45 IS TO MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY EXCUSE.
SO I URGE YOU TO TRY AND SEND THE PAYMENT TO THE WESTERN UNION IMMEDIATELY
AFTER YOU RECEIVE THIS EMAIL SO THEY WILL START SENDING YOUR $5000 US DOLLARS
DAILY,MAY I KINDLY INFORM YOU THAT THERE IS NO OTHER FEE TO BE PAID AFTER FEE
ENCASE IF THAT IS THE REASON YOU FAIL TO SEND THE FEE TO THEM,I WANT TO ASSURE
YOU THAT WE WILL BE MONITORING THE TRANSFER AS FROM NOW ON OK.
THOUGH IF YOU FAIL TO COMPLY,WE WILL THEN PROCEED TO CANCEL THE FUND AND HAVE
IT TRANSFERRED INTO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PURSE.

RECEIVER: JOHN EMEKA
COUNTRY:BENIN CITY:PORTO NOVO
QUESTION:A?,ANSWER:B,AMOUNT:. .$45.00
MTCN:. ,Sender's NAME ,SENDER'S ADDRESS. REGARDS AS AM WAITING TO HEAR FROM
YOU,
JULIET JOHN
FINANCIAL TAX FORCE CHAIRMAN
CENTRAL BANK OF BENIN

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam