419 scam: "Dr. Phil Wilson"<philwilson1@qq.com> YOUR FAMILY INHERITANCE....

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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.
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Phil Wilson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <drphilwilson1974@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 15 Jan 2014 02:46:09 -0800
Subject: YOUR FAMILY INHERITANCE....

Hello ,

I am sorry to contact you unannounced through this medium. I am Mr.Phil Wilson, bank officer of Late Mr. Michael who has same surname as yours. I write you this claim in good faith hoping that I will rely on you. In 2008 Mr. Michael made a fixed deposit of €12 million with my bank; Bankia in Spain. The maturity date and withdrawal of the funds deposit was 16th of January 2009 but unfortunately, while on a business trip, he died in a deadly earthquake that occurred on May 12, 2008 in Sichuan province of China which killed at least 68,000 people.

My bank management has been trying to find out from me the information about this account and the owner, but I have kept it closed because, I know that if they become aware that Mr. Michael is late, they will obtain the funds for themselves. However, in the course of my search for his family in the people search sites with his surname, I was able
to find you, therefore my contacting you to seek your co-operation and assistance to present you as the one to benefit from his funds after his death since you have the same surname to receive the funds from the bank.

I have done comprehensive inside arrangement, so I only have to put in your details into the information network in the bank computers and reflect you as his next of kin to receive the funds. For your stand in to receive the funds, I am suggesting we share the funds 50/50%
between us. Let me have your response on this and please do treat this request as confidential.

Best Wishes,

Mr. Phil Wilson.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam