419 scam: "John C. Williams" <johncwilliams@gmail.com> I need your immediate update

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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united states dollars" (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)
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- ",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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
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.
- johncwilliams885@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "John C. Williams" <johncwilliams@gmail.com>
Reply-To: <johncwilliams885@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2023 02:37:44 -0700
Subject: I need your immediate update

Dear Beneficiary,

We write in regards to your delayed Contract/Inheritance Funds in the
sum of Eight Million Five Hundred United States Dollars
(US$8,500,000.00) which you are yet to receive as a result of your
inability to raise the required fee(s) to conclude your Transaction.
The United Nations has decided to proffer a solution that will make it
easier for all the Beneficiaries to receive their Funds. We understood
that some Fees are required in order process and Transfer your Funds
into your Account. We are also aware that most Beneficiaries do not
have these required fees.

We have therefore deliberated with the Bank in charge of this payment
to allow Beneficiaries the privilege of receiving their Funds in two
(2) or three (3) installments. In this case, Beneficiaries will no
longer be required to pay the fee at once but part of it depending on
the number of installments such Beneficiary will like his/her Funds to
be released to him/her.

Write the Bank and request that you want your fund to be transferred
to your account by installments payment, so that once the first
payments enters into your account you can then use money from there to
facilitate the transfer of the remaining balance, once the first
installments enters into your account withdrawal from your account to
Federal Reserve Bank of New York Online transfer procedure.

The Federal Reserve Bank which is now in charge of your Payment has
agreed to give the Beneficiaries the option of receiving their Funds
at once, in two or three installments. Therefore, you should send him
your full Name and telephone number/your correct mailing address. This
will help the beneficiaries to pay part of the fee and receive part of
their Funds with which such beneficiary can upset the remaining fee
and receive his/her complete Funds.

To break this down: ($50) fee will facilitate the release of One
Million United States Dollars (US$1,000,000.00) only. ($100) fee will
facilitate the release of Two Million United States Dollars
(US$2,000,000.00) only. ($150) fee which is the total fee will
facilitate the release of your Full Contract/inheritance Funds in the
sum of Eight Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars
(US$8,500,000.00). However, Feel free to inform us how much you can
raise should you cannot afford any of the above Mentioned installment
so as for us to talk to the Bank to know how much out of your Funds
they could release to you with the amount you can come up with.

Just go ahead an buy Gift Card iTunes card or Steam wallet card today
then scratch the cards scan and send me the copies here, that is if
you can't be able to send the money through WU or MG. So make it fast
so that your Transfer your Funds into your Account. to you within
2hours without any more delaying.

This is the best the United Nations can do for you and you are advised
to take advantage of this opportunity. Kindly, contact Mr. John C.
Williams. at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. to indicate your
preferred option.

He could be reached at: E-mail(johncwilliams885@gmail.com)

NOTE: Do not be shy to indicate the amount you have in hands (no
proper-amount is so small to trigger installments-payment base on our
discussion with the Bank) so that the first payment will move to your
account for you to confirm the existence of the fund before your
proceed for the balance.

All communications consign This your trust fund should be on Email and
SMS only for record purpose Anticipating your immediate and prompt
response. Banking with Federal Reserve Bank-USA certainly opens
several doors for you. Thank you for banking with us.

we looking forward to your positive cooperation fairly soon. to enable
us give you.

John C. Williams.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
(Privacy Policy, Terms, Satisfa_ction and Banking Accuracy)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam