419 scam: "Bill Winters"<billwinters56@citromail.hu> Awaint your reply

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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- "million united states 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)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- ",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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "foreign exchange" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Bill Winters" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <billwinters65@citromail.hu>
Date: Sun, 10 Mar 2019 09:56:51 -0700
Subject: Awaint your reply

Attn:,

Acting in accordance with the British Government Monetary and fiscal policy as contained in the payment British Government foreign payment, Act of 199 as amended by the Section 5, subsection 2 paragraph (b) the foreign exchange allocation committee of SCB Bank of London wishes to inform you that your payment of US$9,500,000.00 (Nine Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only) have been approved for transfer into your bank account in respect of Claim File #SCB/UK/PMT-V222011X.
Exchange Control Approval (ECA) No, in your favour as per reference FMF/SCB/135/1X6/018 has been passes to the office of the foreign Remittance Department and the paymaster General through which the payment is to be effected as Stipulated KEY TESTED TELEGRAPHIC WIRE TRANSFER otherwise known as KTT.

We understood that some Fees are required in order process and Transfer of your Funds into your Account. We are also aware that most Beneficiaries do not have these required fees.

The Standard Chartered Bank, which is now in charge of your Payment has agreed to give the Beneficiaries the option of receiving their Funds at once, in two or three installments. This will help the beneficiaries to pay part of the fee and receive part of their Funds with which such beneficiary can upset the remaining fee and receive his/her complete Funds.

To break this down:

Three Hundred Dollars ($300) fee will facilitate the release of One Million United States Dollars (US$1,000,000.00) only. Six Hundred Dollars ($600) fee will facilitate the release of Two Million United States Dollars US$2,000,000.00) only. One Thousand, Six Hundred Dollars ($1,600) fee which is the total fee will facilitate the release of your Full Contract/inheritance Funds in the sum of (Nine Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only) (US$9,500,000.00).

However,Feel free to inform us how much you can raise. should you or cannot afford any of the above Mentioned installment so as for us to talk to the Bank to know how much out of your Funds they could release to you with the amount you can come up with.This is the best the United Nations/IMF can do for you and you are advised to take advantage of this opportunity

We are waiting on your respond.

Yours Faithfully
Bill Winters, CBE
Group Chief Executive
Standard Chartered Bank

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam