419 scam: "Mr. Williams Gafari" <michaelp543@gmail.com> Dear Friend, kindly get back to me urgently.

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "necessary legal documents" (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. )
- "million united state 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)
- ",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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Williams Gafari" <michaelp543@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mr.wgafari@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2017 23:06:21 +0100
Subject: Dear Friend, kindly get back to me urgently.

Dear Friend,

Compliments of the day to you; Firstly, I apologize for sending you this
sensitive information via e-mail instead of a certified post-mail. Well, my
name is Mr. Williams Gafari, a solicitor and finance lawyer based here in
Accra Ghana and I am currently working with the Ghana National Petroleum
Corporation (GNPC) Oil & Gas. Though I did a lot of web search before
choosing your contact from your country's website and business online
register. It is with trust and sincerity that I approach you for assistance
in a business project for investment purpose in your country.

However, I seek your concept to present you as the foreign executor next of
kin to my deceased client who made a deposit of US$13,000,000.00 (Thirteen
Million United State Dollars only) with a bank here in Ghana, since you are
at an advantage bearing the same last name with my deceased client, so that
the proceeds of the deposit funds valued at US$13,000,000.00 (Thirteen
Million United State Dollars only) can be paid to you and we shall both
share the funds amicably.55% Fifty five percent goes to me while 40% forty
percent will be for you and the remaining 5% will be for any incurred
expenses and for donation to charitable organizations.

So in all faithfulness, I have all the necessary legal documents that will
be used to back up any claim we will make, so all I require is your honest
co-operation to enable us see this project through and I guarantee you that
this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement, so if you can be
trusted then I will appreciate you kindly get back to me immediately for
more details to enable us proceed with the fund transfer process because
the transaction is hundred percent risk free.

I will be waiting on your reply regarding to this subject.

Thank you and best regards,

Yours Truly,
Mr. Williams Gafari.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam