419 scam: Charles Williams <chamberscharleswilly@lawyer.com> (no subject)

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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:
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: Charles Williams <chamberscharleswilly@lawyer.com>
Reply-To: chamberscharleswilly2@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2012 00:39:35 +0900
Subject:

Att'n,
I crave your indulgence as I contact you in such a surprising manner. I am Barrister Charles Williams, a solicitor at law. My client Mr. Mark, his wife and their only son were involved in a Bomb Blast in Lagos Island. Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my client's extended relatives, this has proved unsuccessful.

I am contacting you to assist in repatriating the fund valued at US $7.5 million left behind by my client before it gets confiscated or declared unserviceable by the AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK GROUP (ADBG), where my late client deposited this funds. The said bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next fourteen official working days.

After several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family, hence I contacted you. However, with my position as his personal attorney, I wish to present you to claim the fund as a relative/next of kin. All I require from you is your honest co-operation to enable us see this transaction to a success. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Do indicate your interest and keep me updated by replying this email and include your direct phone number so we can talk better.

Furthermore, you may view the website for more information about the blast:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2718295.stm

Please get in touch with me immediately.

Best Regards,
Barrister Charles Williams.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam