419 scam: "Mr.Johnson Williams." <johnsonwilli@yahoo.com> My Dear Friend,

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" 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.
- +2348087265715 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- officeinfo@inmail24.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Johnson Williams." <johnsonwilli@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: officeinfo@inmail24.com
Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2010 13:13:52 -0300 (BRT)
Subject: My Dear Friend,

My Dear Friend,

How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family? You may not
understand why this mail came to you. But if you do not remember i or my
colleague,you might have received an email from us in the past regarding a
million-dollar business proposal which we never concluded.I am using this
opportunity to inform you that this million-dollar business has been
concluded with the assistance of another partner from Qatar who financed
the transaction to a logical conclusion.

I thank you for your great effort to our unfinished transfer of fund into
your account due to one reason or the other best known to you.But I want
to inform you that I have successfully transferred the fund out of the
bank to my new partner's account in Qatar who assisted me in his great
venture but now i am in Qatar for business mission. Due to your effort,
sincerity, courage and trustworthiness shown during the course of the
transaction. I want to compensate you and show my
gratitude to you with the sum of $3,250,000.00 I have left instruction to
my secretary to send you a certified international bank draft for you
worth of $3,250,000.00 cashable anywhere in the world.

My dear friend I will like you to contact my secretary, Mike Robert, on
his direct email address:

Name:Mike Robert.
Email:officeinfo@inmail24.com
Tel:+234-808-726-5715.

For the collection of your Bank draft, send to him the name you want the
Draft to bear, that is your account name in order for him to draw the
Draft on your behalf as i have authorized Mike Robert my secretary and my
account officer to release the Bank Draft to you whenever you contact her
regarding it.

At the moment, I am very busy here in Qatar because of the investment
project, which my new partner and i are having at hand. Please i will like
you to accept this token with good faith as this is from the bottom of my
heart, also comply with Mike Robert, directives so that she will send the
draft to you without any delay.

NOTE: You are advised not to discuss the matter with any body except my
secretary, also do not to accept any fax or telephone calls that does not
come from her because He is the only person i left the order on how to
deliver the cheque/draft to you, and you should contact him immediately
you receive this message for more information on how you can get the draft
. Endeavor to send your full Name and telephone number/your current
mailing address, {Home or Office} where you want the draft sent to you so
that you will not have any problem clearing the Draft.

Thanks, God bless you and your family.

Mr.Johnson Williams.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam