419 scam: "Hon. Tunji Williams" <xx@yy> Hello,

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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
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.
- infofile020@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Hon. Tunji Williams" <xx@yy>
Reply-To: <infofile020@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2021 22:45:56 -0800
Subject: Hello,

Hello,

Good Morning! I am writing to you this morning after our meeting yesterday evening regarding your pending fund transfer. This became necessary following a presidential directive to us in respect to your long and over due payment. The meeting took us a very long time, but at the end, we were able to find a solution that will be of your own good. You have been recommended for the issuance of a total waiver clearance certificate which will cover you from all this endless demand for one fee tax or levy. This is because we discovered that you would have received your payment by now if not for all these fees. To this end and based on your approval for recommendation for the issuance of the total waiver clearance certificate, you are advised to send the following details as soon as you receive this message so that we can process and procure the waiver certificate. Bear in mind that once this certificate is issued, you will become free from further payment of any taxes, fees or levy. The following detals is required from you, and you should respond to the email address stated here. (Email address here.( infofile020@gmail.com )

1. Your Full Names.

2. Amount Paid.

3. Your Full Address.

4. Age

5. Occupation

Yours Faithfully,

Hon. Tunji Williams
Chairman, Senate Committee On Debt
And Settlement.
Office Of The Presidency.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam