What's in a name?

One of the failings of many of the advance fee fraudsters is their apparent inability to invent plausible names. As has been pointed out by others, in other threads, it is fairly common for the supposed first name to resemble a surname.

Here's a "Mr. Lamptey Williams", for example. How likely is it that a Mr Williams would have a first name of Lamptey? Of course, there are plenty of people with the surname of Lamptey, especially in certain parts of the world.

[41.223.251.202 tracks to South Africa]

Subject: Re GOOD DAY MY FRIEND HOW IS YOUR FAMILY
From: [email protected]
Received: from 41.223.251.202 by CEN2-L10.sis.aol.com (10.64.224.74) with HTTP (WebMailUI)
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Return-Path: [email protected]



Re GOOD DAY MY FRIEND HOW IS YOUR FAMILY

Dearest Friend,

I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transferred under the cooperation of a new partner from Paraguay.Presently I am in Paraguay for investment projects with my own share of the total sum. Meanwhile, I did no't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring those funds deposit that it failed us some how.

Now contact my secretary now his name is Mr. Lamptey Williams, and his e-mail address is( [email protected] )or call Tel: 0022993686283,tell him that i sent you to him to collect your bank draft check i kept for you that hi chould send it to you imminitly
amount US$ 1. 200, million two hundred thousand Dollar which I kept for your compensation for all the past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter.

I appreciated your efforts at that time so much. So feel free and get in touched with my secretary Mr. Lamptey Williams, instruct him where to send the amount to you. Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share the joy after all the sufferness at that time. In the moment,I am very busy here because of the investment projects which me and the new partner are having at hand, finally, remember that I have forwarded instruction to my secretary on your behalf to receive that money,so feel free to get in touch with Mr. Lamptey Williams, he will send the amount to you without any delay.

Best Regards,
Mrs Margaret Williams Mac.

I believe that there could be a PLACE called "West Morgan" in Alabama:

Received: (from nobody@localhost)
by webpia114.com
Message-Id: <***@webpia114.com>
Subject:
From: West Morgan <[email protected]>
Reply-To: [email protected]
Return-Path: [email protected]




Hello,

I am a Civil Lawyer. I have a Client that has Interest in Investing in Your Country, can You be of Assistance?

I shall give Details when You Reply.

Mr.West Morgan

Other headers show that this email passed through 218.38.13.189 [Seoul, Korea]

Another day, another Morgan.

This particular approach tries the "your total prize money has been returned to us" lie.

Received: from [172.17.226.125]
by out01.wanadoo.es with smtp (Exim 4.43)
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]<[email protected]>
Subject: UNCLAIMED LOTTO PRIZE PAYMENT NOTICE.
Return-Path: [email protected]


INTERNATIONAL LOTTO ORGANIZATION
Juan Hurtado De Mendoza 6D 28044,
Cotonou Republic du Benin

UNCLAIMED LOTTO PRIZE PAYMENT NOTICE.

ATTENTION TO THE OWNER OF THIS EMAIL ADDRESS;

Winner in the 2nd category of our Euroafriq free Net
Lottery Promotional award draws held December 2006.

I am writing in respect to your lotto winning prize of
$915,810.00(Nine hundred and fifteen thousand eight
hundred and ten US Dollars only) which you won through
the email ballot draws in our Euroafriq Lotto Award in
2006 in the second category prize winnings category.

We wish to inform you that your total prize money of $915,810.00 has
been returned to us by our Lotto claims agent as unclaimed prize after
their initial letter to your address for your payment was not
successful.You are here by requested to contact our Treasury office on
telephone 22993013428 or
email: ( [email protected] ) for your immediate payment.

Our Treasury officer's name is Morgan Anderson,so refer this to him and

contact him immediately for your unclaimed lotto prize payment to you.

You should contact our Treasury Officer as directed
above for your payment, and do notify me as soon as you
received your payment from our Treasurer.

Thanks,

Mrs Vera Gonzales.
President; Int'l Lotto Org.

Here's another of those one-size-fits-all attempts, in which they don't even bother to specify the recipient's name or the name of the supposed deceased person with the squillions of unclaimed dollars.

I somehow doubt there was much point in telling me that this pretend person was meant to have died "interstate". [I do know which word the scammer ought to have typed ...]

Received: from dqmcnfaf by server146.ideal-dns.com with local (Exim 4.63)
(envelope-from <[email protected]>)
Received: from 41.219.244.25 ([41.219.244.25])
(SquirrelMail authenticated user [email protected])
by www.healingtherapy.co.uk with HTTP;
Message-ID: <****@www.healingtherapy.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2007 07:26:34 +0100 (BST)
Subject: GOOD DAY
From: "christian frederick" <[email protected]>
Reply-To: [email protected]
Bcc:
Return-Path: [email protected]


Dear,

This mail will definitely be coming to you as a surprise, but I must crave
your indulgence to introduce myself to you.

My name is Mr.Christian W.Frederick and work with a bank (one of the
African leading banks in the West Coast)our client died Three years ago
leaving behind Capital amount (US$10.6M with interest) in our bank here
where i work ,I am his account manager,till date nobody has come forward
or put application for the claim.

During the bank private search for the relative recently your name and
email contact was among the findings that matches the same surname as the
deceases name is (withheld for security reason) who died interstate with
no Will or next of kin.

To maintain the level of security required I have intentionally left out
the final details. I want you to come forward since I can provide you with
the details needed for you to claim the Funds so that I can be gratify by
you,I and my colleague that will do all the crucial part in the bank to
have the claim release to you promptly.

To affirm your willingness and cooperation please do so by replying me at
my private email stating your.

My private email address:[email protected]

I do expect you prompt response.

Best Regards,
Mr.Christian W.Frederick.

41.219.244.25 appears on various lists of proxies.