419 scam: "Bill Gates"<bbbbb@aol.com> 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:

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:
- "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. )
- ",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)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "wu.union2017@yandex.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "wu.union2017@yandex.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "wu.union2017@yandex.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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: "Bill Gates" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wu.union2017@yandex.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2017 20:40:34 +0530
Subject: Re

ATTENTION

You have been gifted to receive $5 MILLION USD Donation From Mr Bill Gates. Contact Western Union India at this email: wu.union2017@yandex.com

I and my wife have decided to donate the sum of $5,000,000,00 USD to you as part of our charity project to improve the 10 lucky individuals all over the world from our $65 Billion Usd I and My Wife Mapped out to help people. We prayed and searched over the internet for assistance and i saw your email on Microsoft email owners list and picked you. as you could see from our webpage,am not getting any younger and you can imagine having no much time to live because i am sick. although am a Billionaire investor and we have helped some charity organizations from our Fund.our information below is 100% legitimate, please see the link below: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_%26_Melinda_Gates_Foundation

i am happy to informed you that i have successfully made an arrangement with 100% Guarantee to send your 5 million to you by Western Union Money Transfer they will be sending you $10,000.00 usd per day until you receive the complete payment of $5 Million usd To facilitate the payment process of the funds ($5,000,000.00 USD) which i have been donated to you, you are to send below to this email: wu.union2017@yandex.com

your full names.................
your contact address................
your personal telephone number............
Your Occupation.......................

I have authorized the Western Union India To start sending your money to you 10,000,00 usd per day. i am happy for the good news because i am tired of the BANK DELAYS. send your full address and phone number to this email: wu.union2017@yandex.com contact western Union India Immediately and follow they instruction to enable you receive the money.

Remain Blessed

Regards
Mr Bill Gates

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam