419 scam: "MRS.Sarah William"<sarawiliam@gmail.com> From MRS.Sarah William

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2348068044039 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- sarahwwiliam@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MRS.Sarah William" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sarahwwiliam@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2014 18:03:32 -0400
Subject: From MRS.Sarah William

From MRS.Sarah William
Plot 234 V/Island Lagos Nigeria
Hot line: +234-8068044039
Reply me Email: sarahwwiliam@gmail.com

Attention:

This is to officially inform you that your compensation funds valued
USD2.3M. United States Dollars has been approved via ATM MASTERCARD by President Goodluck E. Jonathan, and I want to let you know that your card has been deposited with the assigned COURIER EXPRESS; you are advice to contact me as soon as possible for the delivery arrangement on your card. Bear in mind that is because of your fund that is why i am in Nigeria we have issued a new pin code, so call for the new pin code to enable you have full access of the card.
+234-8068044039

For your information, all the necessary approval documents has been issued on your behalf, and you are to reconfirm your information for
the delivery of your ATM CARD. You have to contact me very urgent with the following information to enable the COURIER EXPRESS AGENT deliver your card to your address.

Your Full Name:
Address:
Cell: phone:

Once I confirm the following information, I will forward to you all
the related documents to your ATM CARD. Let me repeat again; try to call me as soon as you receive this email for next line of action, to avoid any further delay.

YOU MUST CALL ME AS SOON AS YOU GET THIS MAIL FOR WHAT NEXT TO DO.
ALSO FOR YOUR INFORMATION, YOU HAVE TO STOP ANY FURTHER COMMUNICATION WITH ANY OTHER PERSON (S) OR OFFICE(S) TO AVOID ANY HITCHES IN RECEIVING' YOUR MASTERCARD.

Yours Faithfully,
MRS.Sarah William

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam