419 scam: williamsrichard@gmail.com ATTENTION BENIEFICIARY !!!

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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "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. )
- "million us 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)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- lanrrethomas@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: williamsrichard@gmail.com
Reply-To: williamsrichad0037@gmail.com
Date: 07 Mar 2017 18:38:52 +0700
Subject: ATTENTION BENIEFICIARY !!!

MR.Lanre Thomas (Msc, MBA, FCA)
Senior Controller, Customers Service.
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA, RC 103022.
1, U.B.A Close, off kofo Abayomi Street,
Victoria Island,
Lagos. Nigeria .
E-mail:lanrrethomas@yahoo.com

Dear Sir/Madam,

On the 5th of January 2009 a gang of militants from the Niger
Delta in Bayelsa
state attacked and bombed oil refineries/ fields located on the
Creeks of that
region killing four (4) expatriate staff and 10 local staff of
the company
including Engr. (Wilbert) who was a customer with my above
mentioned Bank
(United Bank For Africa Plc.) .Consequently I was mandated by the
Management of my bank as
his account service controller to help locate any of his close
relation to Claim
the money he deposited with the bank.

Engr. Wilbert has in his account with United Bank For Africa plc
before his sudden death the
total sum of Twenty million six hundred and thirteen thousand
united states
dollar ($20.613 million USA dollars) among other personal
effects, including a
life assurance policy worth $2.8 million insured with American
International
Insurance Company's African regional office in Nigeria (AIICO).
As a matter of
fact i have tried every human efforts to locate any of his close
relatives which
proved abortive all because he did not reside here in Nigeria
with any of his
immediate family being a contractual staff with shell petroleum
development
company (SPDC) except his dog called foster.

Therefore, having been unsuccessful in locating any of his close
relatives this
past years mostly as his 4 ( four) years contract is due to
expire very soon , I
have decided to contact you to assist in Repatriating the money
and properties
of which he left behind before they get confiscated or declared
Unserviceable by
the bank and the insurance.

I seek your consent and cooperation to present you as the next of
kin to the
deceased, over the Proceeds of this account valued at ($20.613
million US
Dollars) to be paid to you and then you and I can share the money
in the ratio
of 48% to me and 47% to you, while the balance 5% will be set
aside for any
contingency expenses we may encounter in course of this
transaction.

An attorney will be contracted to assist us in re validating and
also to notarize
all necessary legal documents of which will be used to back up
our claims. All I
need of you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this
project a huge
sucess.

I guarantee you that this project will be executed under a
legitimate
arrangement that will protect you and me from any breach of the
law. I will
appreciate some measure of confidentiality until we finish the
project, because
of my position in the bank.

Yours Sincerely,

Lanre Thomas.
lanrrethomas@yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam