419 scam: Mrs Mary Williams <williams_229@msn.com> Dear Customer :

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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "money-gram" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- m.ghana12@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: Mrs Mary Williams <williams_229@msn.com>
Reply-To: <M.ghana12@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2011 21:16:20 +0000
Subject: Dear Customer :

From Office Of The Money Gram Money Transfer.Accra-Ghana Republic/Address No 450 Ring Road Accra-Ghana.
Website:WWW.money-gram.com/
Phone:+233244841003.
Email:( M.ghana@w.cn )

Dear Customer :
Be inform that we have been giving an instruction from Hon Ado Seth,Foreign Finance Controller Accra Ghana to start transferring to you your Delayed Aid Fund Payment,Amount Sum (¤1.2 Million Euro)to you.

Now be inform that you will be receiving ¤5000 Euro instrumentally payment everyday through money gram money transfer,Until your total amount sum (¤1.2 Million Euro) is completely transferred to your custody.

Today our foreign fund department have affected your first transfer payment sum ¤7,200 Euro to your name,Transfer Reference below.
Sender First Name=Dr Victor
Sender Second Name =Ike
Amount=¤5000.00 Euro
Question=Code
Answer=233.

Contact Dr Victor Ike, Foreign Operation Director on the below address,to issue to you,your Fund Clearance Certificate and give to you your Money Gram Transfer Control Number to pick-up your first payment of ¤5000 Euros.
Contact Person Dr Victor Ike {Foreign Operation Director Money Gram Accra Ghana}
E-mail:( M.ghana@w.cn )(M.ghana12@gmail.com)
Tell-+233244841003.

Cheers
Mrs Mary Williams

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam