419 scam: "Smith & Williamson Holdings Limited" <w.umtransfer91@gmail.com> =?UTF-8?Q?Can_You_Handle_=C2=A37_Million_British

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",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)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- drwalterlewis@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Smith & Williamson Holdings Limited" <w.umtransfer91@gmail.com>
Reply-To: drwalterlewis@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 24 Sep 2021 13:08:40 +0100
Subject: =?UTF-8?Q?Can_You_Handle_=C2=A37_Million_British_Pounds=3F?=

Smith & Williamson Holdings Limited.
Dr Walter Lewis,Auditor General.
Address: 25 Moorgate, London EC2R 6AY, United Kingdom
Email; drwalterlewis@gmail.com

Dear Friend,

I am Dr Walter Lewis, the Auditor General, Smith & Williamson Holdings
Limited, United Kingdom. In the course of my auditing, I discovered a
floating fund in an account, which was opened in 1999 belonging to a dead
foreigner who died in 2013. I have been able to contact the Late account
holderâ€™s attorney; but every effort made to track any member of his family
or next of kin has since failed hence I got in contact with you to stand as
his next of kin since you bear the same last surname name. He died leaving
no heir or a will. Since his attorney is aware, you will contact his
attorney since he has all the legal documents backing the fund.

My intention is to transfer this sum of Â£7,000,000.00 British Pounds only,
in the aforementioned account to a safe account overseas. I am therefore
proposing that you quietly partner with me and provide an account or set up
a new one that will serve the purpose of receiving this fund. For your
assistance in this venture, I am ready to part with a good percentage of
the entire funds. We will share the funds in the proportion of 60% for you,
10% for the attorney, 20% for me and 10% will be donated to Charitable
Organizations. After going through the deceased personâ€™s records and files,
I discovered that:

(1) No one has operated this account since 1999.
(2) He died without an heir; hence the money has been floating.
(3) No other person knows about this account apart from the attorney and
there was no beneficiary. That is why every process has to go through the
attorney.

If I do not remit this money urgently, it would be forfeited and
subsequently converted to companyâ€™s funds, which will benefit only the
directors of my firm. This money can be approved to you legally as with all
the necessary documentary approvals in your name. However, you would be
required to show some proof of claim, which the attorney will provide you
with and also guide you on how to make your applications.

Best Regards,

Dr.Walter Lewis
Auditor General,
Smith & Williamson Holdings Limited,
London, United Kingdom.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam