419 scam: "BAR. JAMES WILLIAMS"<willies@yahoo.com> Best Regards

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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "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. )
- "huge deposit" (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.)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "bar.jameswiliams@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "BAR. JAMES WILLIAMS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bar.jameswiliams@live.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2012 10:09:09 -0500
Subject: Best Regards

MESSRS JAMES WILLIAMS & CO.
SOLICITORS AND ADVOCATES
(EQUITY CHAMBERS)
15 OSBORNE STREET, IKOYI,
LAGOS-NIGERIA

Dear sir/madam,

I am Barrister JAMES WILLIAMS solicitor & Advocate, I am the Personal Attorney to ENGR.DAHLIA FAIZ MARID, a foreign national, who used to work as a contractor in some oil companies in Nigeria.

On the 21st of September 2010, my client, his wife and their three children were involved in an Auto Crash along Benin-Asaba Express Road. Unfortunately they all lost their lives in the event of the accident, since then I have made several inquiries to his Embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet with his name to locate any member of his extended family but all to no avail hence I contacted you.

I contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where these huge deposits were lodged. The Bank where the deceased had a FIXED DEPOSIT ACCOUNT valued US$36.6 million is ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC. Fortunately, the bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next 30 official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you are from a foreign country, so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$36.6 million dollars can be paid to you and then you and me will share the money on 50/50 ratio

I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us seeing this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Please Note: For confidential reasons, get in touch with me on my private Telephone number 234- 8055819205, or respond to my email address (bar.jameswiliams@live.com) for further discussions.

Best regards,

BAR.JAMES WILLIAMS.

Anti-fraud resources:

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