419 scam: Micheal williams <mw5721442@gmail.com> My dear friend

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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 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.
- mw5721442@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Micheal williams <mw5721442@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2023 07:53:02 -0700
Subject: My dear friend

my best friend,

My name is Michael Williams. He had only risen to branch manager of a
bank in Ghana, West Africa. I got the info when searching online.

I have been told I am a peaceful person and don't want trouble. You
may be interested. Hope we can help each other. If you do not want
this business offer, please forget about it as we will not contact you
again.

As the bank's branch manager, I was responsible for sending financial
reports to the head office in Accra, the capital, at the end of each
year.

During the year-end reporting process for 2022 last year, I found out
that the branch I was managing was posting [$12.5 million] in excess
profits. After that, I deposited the funds into another account.

As a bank officer, I can't tie the money myself, so let's get in touch
and work together.

I give you 40% of the total funds and keep 60% in a bank account until
I get out and join your country and share/invest my own share of the
funds. Any help.

As soon as I get a reply to this address (mw5721442@gmail.com), I will
tell you more about how I did it.

sincerely,
Michael Williams

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam