419 scam: "James B. Williams" <western_union372@hotmail.com> Your Transfer Information

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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:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "mtcn" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "western_union021@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- +22998651731 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "James B. Williams" <western_union372@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <western_union021@live.com>
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2012 09:52:59 +0100
Subject: Your Transfer Information

Hello,

I have contacted you because I've sent you the first payment of $5,000 today from your winning funds total amount of $1.5Million USD,Therefore you need to contact western union agent Mr.Jerry Onyemafor him to give you the transfer payment information and MTCN.

Agent: Mr.Jerry Onyema
Email: western_union021@live.com
Phone: +229 98651731

Please try to contact him today for him to forward the payment information to you, Remember to Indicate the registration code of EB-2520 to him when e-mailing or calling him, Also he will be sending you $5,000.00 daily as per my discussion with him.

Do get in touch with me once you have Received the transfer.

Sincerely,
Mr. James Michael
IMF MANAGING DIRECTOR
BENIN REPUBLIC
__________________________________________________________________
IMPORTANT
This message is confidential. It may not be disclosed to, or used by, anyone other than the addressee. If you receive this message in error, please advise us immediately.
Clients of the Firm should be aware that legally privileged information in Solicitor-Client correspondence may cease to be privileged if the message is sent to others.
Internet e-mails are not necessarily secure. ThorneSegar do not accept responsibility for changes to any e-mail which occur after the e-mail has been sent. Attachments to this e-mail may contain software viruses that could damage your systems. Thorne Segar use virus checking software but you should still virus-check attachments before opening.
This Firm's service is provided by solicitors of England and Wales and is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). The SRA's Rules can be viewed at www.sra.org.uk/code-of-conduct.page .
Thorne Segar, Solicitors, 3 Bancks Street, Minehead, Somerset TA24 5DE
Telephone +44 (0)1643 703234 FAX +44 (0)1643 704697
DX 117403 Minehead
Email: partners@thornesegar.co.uk
VAT No. 130 6559 82
Partners: John E Mullis, David Segar, Iestyn Milton-Jenkins and John Barrington.
Consultant: Crispin J Hodges (Retired Solicitor)
__________________________________________________________________
IMPORTANT
This message is confidential. It may not be disclosed to, or used by, anyone other than the addressee. If you receive this message in error, please advise us immediately.
Clients of the Firm should be aware that legally privileged information in Solicitor-Client correspondence may cease to be privileged if the message is sent to others.
Internet e-mails are not necessarily secure. ThorneSegar do not accept responsibility for changes to any e-mail which occur after the e-mail has been sent. Attachments to this e-mail may contain software viruses that could damage your systems. Thorne Segar use virus checking software but you should still virus-check attachments before opening.
This Firm's service is provided by solicitors of England and Wales and is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). The SRA's Rules can be viewed at www.sra.org.uk/code-of-conduct.page .
Thorne Segar, Solicitors, 3 Bancks Street, Minehead, Somerset TA24 5DE
Telephone +44 (0)1643 703234 FAX +44 (0)1643 704697
DX 117403 Minehead
Email: partners@thornesegar.co.uk
VAT No. 130 6559 82
Partners: John E Mullis, David Segar, Iestyn Milton-Jenkins and John Barrington.
Consultant: Crispin J Hodges (Retired Solicitor)
__________________________________________________________________
IMPORTANT
This message is confidential. It may not be disclosed to, or used by, anyone other than the addressee. If you receive this message in error, please advise us immediately.
Clients of the Firm should be aware that legally privileged information in Solicitor-Client correspondence may cease to be privileged if the message is sent to others.
Internet e-mails are not necessarily secure. ThorneSegar do not accept responsibility for changes to any e-mail which occur after the e-mail has been sent. Attachments to this e-mail may contain software viruses that could damage your systems. Thorne Segar use virus checking software but you should still virus-check attachments before opening.
This Firm's service is provided by solicitors of England and Wales and is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). The SRA's Rules can be viewed at www.sra.org.uk/code-of-conduct.page .
Thorne Segar, Solicitors, 3 Bancks Street, Minehead, Somerset TA24 5DE
Telephone +44 (0)1643 703234 FAX +44 (0)1643 704697
DX 117403 Minehead
Email: partners@thornesegar.co.uk
VAT No. 130 6559 82
Partners: John E Mullis, David Segar, Iestyn Milton-Jenkins and John Barrington.
Consultant: Crispin J Hodges (Retired Solicitor)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam