419 scam: Steve Williams <bbbb0502@sina.com> From: Steve Williams to you

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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:
- "million pounds" (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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Steve Williams <bbbb0502@sina.com>
Reply-To: stevewill8750@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2015 18:18:34 -0700
Subject: From: Steve Williams to you

Greetings,

I am Steve Williams, I work with the Lloyds TSB Bank of United Kingdom (L.T.B). I sincerely write to seek your co-operation to enable me carry out an urgent business opportunity in my department. In my department, we discovered an abandoned sum of 7.4 million Pounds (Seven million four hundred thousand Pounds ) in an account that belongs to Late MR. Smidt Brian Sidney who unfortunately lost his life in a plane crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 which crashed on January 31/2000, including his wife and only daughter.

It is therefore upon this discovery that I and my colleague decided to do business with you by releasing the funds to you as his Next of Kin for safety keeping, and subsequent disburse the funds, since nobody is coming for it. This money has been dormant for years in our Bank without claim, and I don't want the fund to go into the Reserve of Lloyds TSB Bank as an abandoned fund forever. So this is the reason why I contacted you confidentially so that the bank can release the funds to you as the Next of Kin to the deceased. Your duty and task is to act as as the Next Of Kin to the deceased. This is an opportunity for us.

I and my colleague has concluded and agreed to offer you 35% out of the total funds for your assistance immediately the funds is released to you. If you are interested, Below are the requirements to facilitate the swift process:

1. Your full Names:
2. Your home address:
3. Your age:
4. Your occupation:
5. Your private telephone and fax numbers:

All the relevant information and documents to authenticate you as the Next of Kin shall be forwarded to you upon my receipt of the above requested information. Note: This business is %100 risk free and please I would like you to keep this transaction as a top secret between us to avoid involving third party. Kindly get back to me and i will feed you with more details.

Best regards
Steve Williams,
International remittance dept,
Lloyds TSB Bank United Kingdom

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam