419 scam: Leon Witter <leonwitter1@yahoo.com.ph> RE..............

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "here in united kingdom" (this email uses bad English)
- "foreign payment department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- lwitter11@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Leon Witter <leonwitter1@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2012 13:12:08 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: RE..............

Dear friend,

It's my pleasure having you contacted today, My Name is Mr.Leon Witter I am the auditor and head of computing department of HSBC Bank London, London WC2N

4,here in United Kingdom.

I have an account opened in this bank and since my inception into office on 3rd Jan 2012. I then found this account and when I investigated deeply by

contacting the assigned next of kin I also found that the next of kin to this account was an Indonesia who lived in London for over Years and nobody has

operated on this account again after 2004.

I took the courage to look for a reliable and honest person who will be capable for this important transaction.In order to transfer out $100,000,000 (One

Hundreh Million U.S Dollars) after going through some old files, I discovered that if I do not remit this money out urgently,it will be forfeited for nothing

and HSBC Bank London management might divert the funds to their own accounts.

I will be very grateful to your respond immediately. I will use my position and influence to effect the legal approval and onward transfer of this fund into

your account with appropriate clearance from foreign payment department.You will stand to get 40% while 60% will be for me.

I will fill you in with further details upon your reply

Reply to my email:lwitter11@yahoo.com

Sincerely yours,

Mr.Leon Witter

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam