419 scam: "Tony Willings"<willings.tony@yahoo.com.hk> READ CAREFULLY

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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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Tony Willings" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tonwillings@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 2 Apr 2010 21:53:37 +0100
Subject: READ CAREFULLY

Compliments,

This is my third instance of delivery this e-mail without any respond, I told you as regards a deal on an investment account of my late patron who bares the same surname with you.
My offer to you is that since I have elite right of entry to his file, you will be made the recipient of these funds. On authentication, which will be the details I make available to depository holding the funds, my company through our lawyer will initiate the organization to make disbursment to you. You do not have to have known him. I know this sounds a bit heavy and complex but believe and trust me as it is attainable without hitch.

For your support, I intend we split the funds in half and share it equally. This practice is not bizarre in the banking quarters here in the China. The other option is that the funds will revert back to the state, where it may be shared by statutory officials. Nothing ventured is nothing gained and that success and riches never come easy or on a platter of gold. This is the one truth I have learned from my private investment clients, We should act swiftly on this if you are in accord please get back to me
without delay, I am contacting you autonomously and no one is informed of this letter. Please do keep this off the record, I await your prompt response.

Best Regards,

Tony Willings

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam