419 scam: "Mark Wilson"<markwilson@iof.com> **SPAM** From: The Office of Mark Wilson (OFR)

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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.
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)
- "into your nominated bank account" (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 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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447024095612 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- hon.mwilson@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mark Wilson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hon.mwilson@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 07:44:51 +0100
Subject: **SPAM** From: The Office of Mark Wilson (OFR)

From: The Office of Mark Wilson (OFR)
Institution of Finance
UNITED KINGDOM GOVERNMENT.

Attn: Beneficiary,

Your Over Due Contract/Inheritance Funds.

This is to notify you that your over due contract/inheritance funds has been gazette to be released, via key telex transfer (KTT) -direct wire transfer to you or through any of our correspondent bank nominated by the senate committee for foreign over due fund transfer.

Meanwhile, a woman came to my office few days ago with a letter,claiming to be your true representative. Here are her information for you to confirm to this office if this woman is truly from you or not so that the Federal Government will not be held responsible for paying into the wrong account

Name: Mrs. Janet White
Bank Name: Citi Bank
Bank Address: Arizona , USA.
Account Number: 6503809428.

Please, do reconfirm to this office, as a matter of urgency if this woman is from you. You are requested to fill and send this information for verifications purposes so that your fund valued U.S$8.3million dollars will be remitted into your nominated bank account as follow:

(1) Your Full Name:
(2) Your Address:
(3) Your Age And Marital Status:
(4) Your Occupation:
(5) Your Telephone/Fax Number:
(6) Your Nationality:

As soon as we receive the above requested information, we will commence with all necessary procedures in other to remit your money/funds into your account.

However, we shall proceed to issue all payments details to the said Mrs. White, if we do not hear from you within the next seven working days from today. We are sorry for any inconvenience the delay in transferring of this fund must have caused you.

Reply to this email: hon.mwilson@gmail.com

Best regards,

Hon. Mark Wilson (OFR)
+44 702-409-5612

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam