419 scam: "Mr.GraylingWilliams"<mrgrayling@aol.com> HOMELAND SECURITY

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "headquater" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- graylingwilliams@usa.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.GraylingWilliams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <GraylingWilliams@usa.com>
Date: Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:23:25 -0500
Subject: HOMELAND SECURITY

HOMELAND SECURITY
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS HEADQUATERS
CALIFORNIA USA.
FROM THE DESK OF
Mr.GraylingWilliams, HEAD OF OPERATIONS,

Dear Citizen,

We have been given your file directly from the NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT as they claimed that it has been approved for a long time but the huge rate of corruption in there system there bankers and government officials claim to get you your funds and go behind trying to keep it all for them self.

We ordered them to send a Notice to you to contact us at our Transfer Department , Oregon USA to enable us Re confirm some details and Document before we have the Nigerian Ministry of Finance issue out your payment in any form of your choice.Furthermore i advice you confirm to me if you sent Mr. Frank T.Kehoe of U.S.A California, with an application to receive your payment on your behalf.

Please as a matter of urgency, you are required to verify the following information and inform us if you are aware or know anything about this.This morning Mr. Frank Kehoe called our office claiming that you have instructed him to come and receive the payment on your behalf as your representatives.

Below is the information submitted on the phone by Frank T. Kehoe I have ask him to call back tomorrow as he did not provide any power of an attorney from you which will proof that you thoroughly send him, I did that to have the time to contact you and verify how genuine this man is to you.

1. Did you instruct one Mr. Frank T. Kehoe of 14 Rice Terrace Apt.306 Branford, Connecticut 06405 whose information's is below, to claim and receive the payment on your behalf?

2. Did you sign any 'Deed of Assignment' in his favor thereby making him the current beneficiary with the following account details:

Yours sincerely,
Mr.GraylingWilliams
Email: GraylingWilliams@usa.com
Head of Operations.
Homeland Security California Dept

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam