419 scam: john wills <johnwillshpnb@hotmail.com> From Mr. John Wills,

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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:
- "million british pounds" (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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- +447024077637 (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.
- johnwillshpnb@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: john wills <johnwillshpnb@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:57:36 +0200
Subject: From Mr. John Wills,

From Mr. John Wills,
Mobile:+447024077637

Dear,
How are you and your family? I know my letter meets you in your best
mood today; my name is philip watford, Head of Primeline NatWest Bank
Plc London. I decided to seek a confidential co-operation with you in
the execution of the deal described here-under for our both mutual
benefit and hope you will keep it a top secret because of the nature
of the transaction, While auditing the bank accounts, I discovered an
unclaimed /abandoned fund, sum total of £ 23.800,000 GBP (Twenty three
million Eight hundred thousand British Pounds sterling) in an account
that belongs to one of our foreign customers (Late Mr. Donald Arthur
Peterson) an American who unfortunately lost his life with his
familly,in an Earthquake of Central Alaska United State on November 3,
2002.

After going through his file in our bank, I discovered that he did not
specify any next of kin or will beneficiary to the fund. I sincerely
seek your consent to present you as the next of kin / will beneficiary
to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at £ 23.8
Million British Pounds Sterling will be disburse to you, which we will
share in these percentages ratio; 60% for me and 40% to you.

All that I required is your sincere co-operation; trust and utmost
confidentiality to enable us conduct this transaction successfully. I
assured you that this transaction will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law both in
your country and here in London when the fund is transferred to your
bank account. Upon consideration and acceptance of this offer, please
send the following information to me immediately.

-Your Full Name,
-Your Contact Address
-Your direct Mobile telephone Number.

This information will enable me to upload your data into our bank
database to reflect in the bank network system that you are the named
next of kin/will beneficiary of this fund, then I will guide you on
communication with the bank for onward transfer of the fund to you,
please note that we have few days to carry out this deal,you can also
Kindly reply to this my other e-mail johnwillshpnb@hotmail.com for
confidentiality.

Thanks in anticipation of your urgent response.

Regards,
Mr. John Wills,
Head PrimeLine,
NatWest Bank Plc.

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Anti-fraud resources:

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