419 scam: "Mr. Michael Williams" <mr.michaelwilliams05@gmail.com> From the Regional Manager!

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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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "it will be a bank to bank transfer" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- mr.michaelwilliams05@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Michael Williams" <mr.michaelwilliams05@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Sep 2022 00:17:12 -0700
Subject: From the Regional Manager!

From the Regional Manager!

Dear friend,

My name is Mr. Williams Williams, I am a banker and regional manager for a
bank here in Ghana. I need your help to transfer an amount of
US$12,500,000.00 to your account as my foreign partner. The fund is part of
the profits made by our bank in the last 4 years at the branch where I am a
manager. I already sent an annual report from last year to my bank's
headquarters in Accra - Ghana, and they didn't notice the excess profits. I
deposited this said US$ 12,500,000.00 in a non-payee escrow account
(Anonymous), to avoid any trace.

I can't connect directly to this fund because I'm still working with the
bank. So I need your help to transfer these funds to your account in your
country for you and me to share. I offer 50% of these funds as my foreign
partner and 50% will go to me. There is no risk because it will be a bank
to bank transfer. So I want you to be the owner of this fund so that you
can present a foreign bank account where the funds can be transferred to
you as my foreign partner.

If you accept this proposal, I am prepared to enter into a partnership with
you. Please reply to me for more information on how to proceed (
mr.michaelwilliams05@gmail.com).

Sincerely,
Mr. Williams Williams,
The Regional Manager,
Tema Branch, Accra - Ghana

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam