419 scam: "Barrister James Umunna"<barristerjamesumunna@yahoo.com> A Proposal For You

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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:
- "million 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)
- "deadline" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "@lawyer.com" (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.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2348138958632
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.
- unionchambers1@lawyer.com (Outblaze.com, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- lagos island, lagos,nigeria. tel:+234 1 2647525 email:unionchambers1@lawyer.com attn: my name is barrister james umunna an attorney to mr (Lawyer; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barrister James Umunna" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info.bar.jamesumunna@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 16:52:35 -0800
Subject: A Proposal For You

Union Chambers
34 Okesuna Street Lagos Island,
Lagos,Nigeria.
Tel:+234 1 2647525
email:unionchambers1@lawyer.com

Attn:

My Name is Barrister James Umunna an attorney to Mr Andre Thomas,
Who was an executive in an oil servicing company Baker Hughes Nig Ltd
Also? Referred to as my client.
On the 10th of May 2006, my client,an American,
was shot dead in the city of Port Harcourt by an unknown millitant group.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4758623.stm

Ever since Then, all efforts made in other to reach His family(my client) have failed.
Before His death,He made some deposit into His Zenith Bank Account for safe keeping,
which I monitored the payment as his Attorney,Now the money has been dormant in that
account for the past 4years.

I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money left behind
By my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by
his bank since according to the bank ethics, any account not serviced
Within a period of time will be declared unserviceable and taken
hold of by the bank.

Particularly, the bank has issued me a notice to provide any of his
Next of kin or have the account confiscated within a short time.
My Late client has an account valued at 8.55 million dollars.
Since I have Been unsuccessful in locating His relatives for some time now,
and With the bank giving me deadline, I now seek your consent to present
You as the next of kin of the deceased, so that the proceeds of this
Account valued at 8.55 million dollars can be paid to you and then you,
and I can share the money.45% to me and 35% for you,10% for any expenses
that may arise and 10% will be for my Legal services.I have all necessary
information that can be Used to back up any Claim

All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this deal
Through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate
Arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Trust
me, as his attorney, this is a risk-free relationship.
Please reach me on my private email address below:
info.bar.jamesumunna@gmail.com
and send me your full names,address, and telephone number to enable
us discuss further about this business.

Please Note:
Every information that i have given to you regarding my identity and personality,
and that of my client is the truth and nothing but the truth.Above i have my office address,
which is real to confirm please go to this link:
http://www.nigeriagalleria.com/Professional_Services/Legal_Services_u

and i am going to provide you with a valid mode of identification,
and any other required document to prove my identity.

Best regards,
Barr. James Umunna
Directline: +234-81389-58632

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam