419 scam: "Mr. WILLIAM PETER" <officefile285@yahoo.com> Dear Valued Customer:

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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:
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- gtbank92@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. WILLIAM PETER" <officefile285@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: "Mr. WILLIAM PETER" <gtbank44@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2018 01:42:22 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Dear Valued Customer:

Dear Valued Customer:

I want to assure you 100% that this transaction is not a scam and there is no risk involved because we shall guide you accordingly until you receive your payment. However, the payment of $15.5 million was awarded and approved in your name by the United Nations. This payment is a United Nation Lottery Award Promo, your name was selected among fifty other names in the lottery award draw. Right now, this payment is currently with us here in GT Bank.

As you may know, we have programmed this payment through ATM MasterCard in your favor, bear in mind that the original copies of your ATM Cards will be delivered to your address through our courier service. We will also issue you a Four Digit Pin Number for you to access and withdraw money from your account once the cards are delivered to you. You can only withdraw a maximum of $20,000 in a day at any ATM Machine close to you.

To this effect, you are advised to send us your full name, address, your cell phone number and a copy of your driver's license for identification. As soon as we receive these information from you, we shall conclude delivery arrangement with our courier service to enable them dispatch the package to your address within 24 hours without anymore delay.

Thank you for choosing GT Bank.

E-Mail, gtbank92@gmail.com
WILLIAM PETER
Wire Transfer Director
GT BANK ONLINE PLC

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam