419 scam: William Shea <williamshea36@gmail.com> You can reach me on my mobile phone number.

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "consignment " (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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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.

Fraud email example:

From: William Shea <williamshea36@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2015 23:58:50 +0000
Subject: You can reach me on my mobile phone number.

--
I ARRIVED IN YOUR NEAREST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, JFK INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT, New York City, United States with your box of consignment
worth $ 4.5Million USA dollars Which I Have Been Instructed by DHL
COMPANY to BE Delivered to you. The Airport Authority Demanded for all
the legal back up to prove to them that the fund is no way related with
drug nor money Laundering as well not meant to support terrorist
activities.

I have presented the papers and handed it over to them and they are very
much pleased with the papers I presented, but the only thing that is
still keeping me here is the airport delivery Tag which is not placed on
the box, one of the Airport Authority has advise that we get the
delivery tag so that I can exit the airport immediately and make my
delivery successful.

I try to reason with them and they stated the delivery tag will cost us
just $199 Dollars only to get the tag placed on the box as that tag will
enable me get to your house successfully without any interference, they
scanned the box and found out that the fund is 100% spend able and
accepted by any bank in the whole world.

As I can not afford to spend more time here due to other delivery I have
to take care of in Austria. Here are the papers backing the funds
together with my ID CARD as I can accompany you to your bank were you
will deposit the fund successfully with these papers. I have I more
vital paper with me but I can only present you the hard copy when I
reach your house as that it is the diplomatic rules, such as
authorization for delivery.

Reconfirm the following information once again to enable you collect
your delivery
as well.
NAME: =======================================
ADDRESS: ====================================
MOBILE NO :. ==================================

You can direct the tag fee to our Head Office in Benin Republic DHL
COMPANY as they will get the tag here for you and they are entitled to
receive and make any payment to foreign countries authority. DIPLOMATIC
MR. WILLIAM SHEA

PAYMENT INSTRUCTION VIA WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM MONEY TRANSFER IN
THE NAME INFORMATION LISTED BELOW.

RECEIVER NAME: OBI ZWEIFEL
COUNTRY: BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY: COTONOU
TEXT QUESTION: when
ANSWER: today
AMOUNT: $199.00 USD only
SENDER NAME .....

Forward Money Control Number / MTCN .......... after sending the payment
to Our Head Office in Benin Republic mail me the payment information
such as mtcn number also senders name text question and answer to enable
me reach them with the payment details so they can get the tag and Fax
it to me as well so I can make my next step to your address today. (Here
Is Your Package registration CODE (AWB33XZS) Urgent Response is needed
because this is a very busy environment and i do not have the access to
spend more than the given period at the diplomatic lodge here. You can
reach me on my mobile phone number.
+1 (516) 200 8667

Regard
DIPLOMAT WILLIAM SHEA
DHL DIPLOMATIC AGENT BENIN REPUBLIC.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam