419 scam: "Capt. Williams James"<no-reply@vancott.com> Capt. Williams James (Urgent Attention)

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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:
- "i want to solicit your attention" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "trunk boxes" (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)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Capt. Williams James" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <williamsjames773@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 3 Aug 2017 08:59:34 -0500
Subject: Capt. Williams James (Urgent Attention)

GREETINGS

I am sorry to encroaach into your privacy in this manner, I found your name listed in the Trade Center Chambers of Commerce

directory here in Iraq, I find it pleasurable to offer you my partnership in business. I only pray this time that your address

is still valid. I want to solicit your attention to receive money on my behalf.

I am Capt. Williams James, an officer in the US Army, i am one of the U.S. Army deployed to Iraq in the beginning of the war

in 2003, and also a West Point Graduate presently serving in the Military with the 82nd Air Borne Division Peace keeping force

in Baghdad, Iraq. I am on the move to Afghanistan from Iraq as the last batch just left, and i really need your help in

assisting me with the safe keeping of two military trunk boxes which has just arrived the USA from Iraq. I hope you can be

trusted?

Though, I would like to hold back certain information for security reasons for now until you have found time to visit the BBC

website news below to enable you have insight regarding what I intend to share with you, believing that it would be of your

desired interest in one way or the other. Here is a BBC news listing that confirms what I want to share with you

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm.

Here is also BBC news listing that confirms what I want to share with you http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7444083.stm if you can be

trusted, I will explain further when i get a response from you.
Get back to me having visited the above websites to enable us discuss in a more vivid manner to the best of your

understanding? I must say that I'm very uncomfortable sending this message to you without knowing truly if you would

misconstrue the importance and decide to go public.

In this regards, I will not hold back to say that the essence of this letter is strictly for mutual benefit of you and I and

nothing more. I will be more vivid and coherent in my next email in this regards. Meanwhile, could you send me a mail

confirming you have visited the site and understood my intentions? Am standing by for your urgent response now that we are

leaving Iraq to Afghanistan.

Yours faithfully,
Best regards.
Capt Williams James
US ARMY

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam