419 scam: MR Alex williams <gootter86@yahoo.pt> ATTN: My DearGood news,

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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:
- "million united states 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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- +22968348051 (Benin, probably a 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.
- johnwilliams22353@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: MR Alex williams <gootter86@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: MR Alex williams <johnwilliams22353@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 16:25:24 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: ATTN: My DearGood news,

Â ATTN: My DearGood news,
The BRITISH High Commission has actually verified and discovered that your payment has been unnecessarily Delayed by corrupt officials of the Company who are Trying to divert your fund of $2.8Million United States Dollars; into their private accounts,
Therefore we have obtained an irrevocable payment guarantee on your Payment with Diamond Bank to make your payment through their new ATM VISA CARD system which you can use to withdraw your money in any ATM MACHINE around your area.
So we are here by inviting you to our office to pick up your ATM VISA CARD but if you cannot be able to come down here in our office in person be inform that you are going to pay for shipping fee of your ATM visa CARD, so if you are unable to come down here then you are required to update them, so that they will proceed with the necessary arrangement for the delivery of your ATM VISA CARD.
As of now be informed that all arrangement has been done and canceled and the ATM VISA CARD has be in your name, but to RE-ACTIVATE the ATM Card you have to forward your current information as requested below to the bank for the ATM Card re-actification, then they will send you the ATM CARD foryour immediate use.
Here are the information you have to forward to the bank:1Â Your Full Names:_____________2. Postal Address:_______________3. Direct____________________4. Cell Numbers:________________5. Sex:__________________________6.Age:_________________________7. Occupation:__________________8.Nationality:__________________9.E-mail Address:_______________
Therefore you are advised to contact Diamond Bank accountant Manager Dr.Carlos Mevi ,with below Email.......address(johnwilliams22353@yahoo.com ) Thank you once again my good friend, May God establishes you with this little compensation Jesus name Amen.CONTACT PERSON:Dr.Carlos Mevi Executive Officer Diamond Bank Pl cBenin. RepublicDirect Hotline: +229 68 34 80 51Get back to me once you received the ATM VISA CARD OK.Thanks and God bless you.MR Alex williams

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam