419 scam: "Mr. Gabriel Umeh"<umehgabriel4@yahoo.com> Very Urgent.

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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.

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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:
- "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "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)
- "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.)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "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 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.
- gabriel006umeh@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Gabriel Umeh" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gabriel002umeh@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2010 13:34:21 +0100
Subject: Very Urgent.

C. Ogbodo & Umeh chambers.
No. 59 Calcuta Crescent
Lagos - Nigeria .
E-MAIL (gabriel006umeh@aim.com)

Dear,
I am Barrister Gabriel Umeh, a Solicitor and an Advocate of the supreme court of Nigeria ; I am the Personal Attorney to Engr. Robert Chapman, a consultant with an oil company here in Nigeria . My client and his wife who unfortunately died in the crash of Kenya airways flight 431 in Abidjan , Ivory Coast , January 30 2005. Since then I have made several contacts as to locate any of his extended relatives, but all proved abortive. Hence I decided to contact you.

I am contacting you to assist in retrieving the money valued at about (US$18.5m) that was left behind by my client with the Spring Bank of Nigeria plc, before it gets confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank. Consequently, the bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next ten official working days. since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 3 years now, I hereby seek your consent to act as the next of kin to the deceased, the proceeds of this account valued at (US$18.5 million dollars) can be paid to you and then and I can share the money. I have all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up this project.
My suggestion to you is that, I will like you as a foreigner to stand as the next of kin/beneficiary to the fund deposited by my late client since you have the same nationality and last name so that the proceeds valued at US$18.5 million dollars will be paid to you. Please endeavor to observe utmost discretion in all matters concerning this issue. Once the funds have been transferred to your nominated bank account, which you will send to the bank, we shall share in the ratio of 50% for you, and 50% for me. I have worked out a procedure that will ensure success, and as a lawyer, I will ensure that all our actions are within the confines of the law.

Should you be interested please, P.s. furnish me with below information, after which I will provide you with more details of this transaction and how to proceed.

1) Your full name and address
2) Your occupation and age
3) Your private/direct telephone and fax number for easy communication

Please get in touch with me with the below email Address:(gabriel006umeh@aim.com

Thanks
Barr. Gabriel Umeh

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam