419 scam: "Ruth.Willaims"<anna@academ.org> I NEED YOUR HELP

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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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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 orphan scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Ruth.Willaims" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ruth.williams1983@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2011 22:09:19 -0000
Subject: I NEED YOUR HELP

Hello Dearest one

I am very sorry if i have bothered you by my email.I am Ruth Willaims.I am 28 Years old,My father was killed in a cold blood in Bauchi a state in Nigeria by the militant group called Boko Haram.My father was a generous man and he work with the federal goverment of Nigeria,He was very wealthy dealing in Agriculural products and ferterlizers,he distrubute his local products to the other african countries from Nigeria to Egypt and Ivory Coast.he has succeded in saving $2.5million dollars during his Business on Agriculural products ,before he was killed in May 2011.He was hit by bomb during a bomb blast in the state.He deposited the funds in a finance company in Dubai UAE.

Since the death of my father my step mother has been trying to kill me, she has been given me a lot of problem and she has collected every property left behind by my late father,by having affiars with his lawyer.I did not release the deposit certificate to her so she cant claim the funds in Dubai,which my father deposited with a finance company Dubai UAE,I am seeking your legal assistance to help me claim this funds in Dubai and act as my beneficiary so you can help me invest the money and sponspor me to school so i can finish my nursing program.

I need help from you,to help us retrieve this Fund from the Financial company and also help me invest it in your country and you will invite me to your country so i can continue my eductation.I will not compesate you with anything as i want you to help me invest it and take good care of me.I will give you the details of the lawyer in Dubai so you can contact him and discuss with him.
I believe he will listen to you,when you present the deposit certificate to him,and i will write to him telling that you are my new beneficiary.

Best regards,

Ruth Willaims.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam