419 scam: "Dr. Lucas Willmon" <cras.industrial@araucaria.pr.gov.br> OVERTURE

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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:
- "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "necessary legal documents" (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. )
- ",500,000" (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 next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Lucas Willmon" <cras.industrial@araucaria.pr.gov.br>
Reply-To: desirel2021@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2015 11:24:06 -0300 (GMT+3)
Subject: OVERTURE

Dr. Lucas Willmon
Operations/Regional Manager
Santander Bank Plc,
47-48 Piccadilly
PICCADILLY
W1J0DT
London United Kingdom

Hello friend,

I am Dr. Lucas Willmon, from Harlesden North West England, Head of
Accounting Audit Department and formal senior programmer manager at
Deutsche bank, here in England (Santander Bank Plc). I also worked for
the Newest Ministers Bank Plc.

I am writing you about a business proposal that will be of an immense
benefit to both of us. In my department, as the only
Operations/Regional Manager Branch Manager Santander Bank Plc. I
discovered a Sum of (Ј21,500,000,00) British Pounds (Twenty one
million Five Hundred Thousand British Pounds) in an account that
Belongs to one of our foreign customers (Late David McDowell Brown) an
American citizen of Arlington Virginia, who unfortunately lost his
life on First February 2003 through the southern United States space
shuttle Columbia, He died a single man.

The choice of contacting you is aroused from the geographical nature
of where you live, particularly due to the sensitivity of this
transaction and the concealment here-in. Our bank has been waiting for
any of the relatives to come-up for the claim but nobody has done that
and i personally have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives, I
now seek your consent to present you as the next of kin (WILL
BENEFICIARY) to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account
valued at (Ј21,500,000,00) British Pounds can be paid to you.

Nevertheless, this will be disbursed or shared in these percentages,
50% to me and 40% to you while 10% is for any expenses incurred during
the transaction. I have secured all necessary legal documents that can
be used to back up this claim we are making. All i need is to fill in
your name(s) to the documents and legalize it in the court here to
prove you as the legitimate beneficiary. All I require now is your
honest Co-operation, Confidentiality and Trust to enable us see this
transaction through. I guarantee you that this will be executed under
a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the
law if you will stand as inheritor of this claim, i shall process
claim in your name. I only require you send your valid identification
details and i will authenticate the claim in your name.

Please, provide me the following, as we have 7 days to run it through.
This is very URGENT PLEASE.

1. Full Name:
2. Your Direct Mobile Number:
3. Your Contact Address:
4. Occupation:
5. Age:
6. Sex:
7. Nationality:

Having gone through a methodical search, I decided to contact you
hoping that you will find this proposal interesting. Please on your
confirmation of this message and indicating your interest I will
furnish you with more information.
Please endeavor to let me know your decision rather than keep me waiting.

Thanking you in anticipation of your favorable reply.

Best Regards,
Dr. Lucas Willmon

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam