419 scam: "John O.Williams" <msheikha978@gmail.com> Inheritance/Contract fund

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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:
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "John O.Williams" <msheikha978@gmail.com>
Reply-To: johnow614@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 22 Dec 2021 09:50:04 +0100
Subject: Inheritance/Contract fund

Dear Beneficiary,

My Name is John O. Williams, I am in charge of all unpaid
Inheritance/Contract fund which all process of payment in your favor
is in progress. A power of attorney was forwarded to my office this
morning by your local associates and a Foreign partner Mr. ALBERT
HILL to claim your fund.

This gentleman claimed to be the representative of your company, and
this power of attorney stated that you have died, they brought a
picture of your burial and an account to replace your information and
claimed your fund which it is right now lying DORMANT and UNCLAIMED,
below is the new account they have submitted:

BANK.-BPI BANK
QUEZON AVE. DELTA BRANCH
QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES
ACCOUNT NO. 2984-0008-66
SWIFT CODE. BOPIPHMM

Be further informed that this power of attorney also stated that you
suffered and died of a throat cancer/COVID-19 . he also brought your
burial pictures in confirmation that you are dead. You are therefore
given 48 hrs to confirm the truth in this information if you are still
alive .

As soon as we hear from you and confirm, we shall proceed with all
arrangements for prompt payment.

You are advised to reconfirm the following information:

Full Name:
Full Address:
Amount in question:
Telephone Number :

You are advised to stop all communication with any office here and
abroad for prompt payment. We are working to serve you better.

I await your urgent response.

Sincerely,

John O. Williams.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam