419 scam: "Mr. Kent Williams"<info@jimowen.com> Dear Valued Beneficiary,

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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:
- ",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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
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.
- williamsmrkent@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Kent Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <williamsmrkent@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 23 Jan 2024 08:27:38 -0800
Subject: Dear Valued Beneficiary,

Dear Valued Beneficiary,

I trust this message finds you in good health. I am Mr. Kent Williams, the Director of Cash Processing at Bank of America in New York City. In collaboration with the International Monetary Fund (I.M.F) and the Organization of African Unity (O.A.U), we are pleased to inform you that you have been selected as a recipient of a compensation fund totaling $10,500,000.00USD.

We deeply regret any distress or inconvenience you may have experienced due to fraudulent activities. Your email address was regrettably among those found in the records of scam victims. To rectify this situation and offer you the compensation you deserve, we have been entrusted by the I.M.F to disburse your compensation via a secure diplomatic courier service with a hand delivery to your specified location.

We understand that you may have concerns regarding associated expenses. Please be assured that we have allocated an amount of Three, thousand United States dollars (USD$10,500,000.00) to cover all expenses, including taxes and the necessary documentation required for this transaction.

To expedite this process, kindly provide us with the following information:

Your complete home address.

Your direct phone number.

You may forward this information to our secure email address: williamsmrkent@gmail.com

Please rest assured that your personal details will be handled with the utmost confidentiality. Our dedicated team is committed to ensuring that you receive your compensation promptly and without any complications.

Should you have any questions or require further clarification, please do not hesitate to reach out to us via the provided email address. We are here to support you throughout this process and address any concerns you may have.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter.

Warm regards,

Mr. Kent Williams

Managing Director

Bank of America, New York City

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam