419 scam: "Barr. William Wood"<chamber.william@yahoo.com.hk> Kindly Reply

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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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "into 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)
- "00,000.00" (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.)
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.
- +27837707483 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- chamber.william@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barr. William Wood" (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 23:01:47 +0100
Subject: Kindly Reply

Brick Court Chambers

7 - 8 Essex Street

London WC2R 3LD.

DEAR FRIEND,

I MUST CRAVE YOUR INDULGENCE TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AS BARRISTER WILLIAM WOOD QC, AN ATTORNEY AT LAW, 46 YEARS, And MARRIED WITH FOUR KIDS.

I GOT YOUR CONTACT THROUGH INTERNATIONAL WEB DIRECTORIES. IN THE DISCHARGE OF MY DUTY, I RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR CLAIM FROM ABSA BANK PLC SOUTH AFRICA , ON A DOMICILIARY ACCOUNT BELONGING TO ONE OF MY CLIENT THAT HAS REMAINED DORMANT FOR NINE YEARS NOW WITH EIGHTEEN MILLION, SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND BRITISH POUNDS ONLY (£18,600,000.00) IN IT.

MY CLIENT, LATE MR. ANDREAS SCHRANNER, A REAL ESTATE INVESTOR AND PROPERTY MAGNATE DIED ON PLANE CRASH WITH ALL THE MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY AND EXTENDED FAMILY LEAVING NO NEXT OF KIN TO HEIR HIS PROPERTIES AND CASH DEPOSITED WITH ABSA BANK SOUTH AFRICA.YOU ARE ADVISED TO TAKE A LOOK ON HOMEPAGE BELOW AS REPORTED BY BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

RECENTLY, THE BANK SENT ME A NOTIFICATION AS HIS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE INFORMING ME THAT ANY FURTHER DELAY TO PROVIDE MY CLIENT NEXT OF KIN BEFORE THE END OF BANK YEAR, THAT BASED ON THE BANK POLICY ON ALL UNCLAIMED FUND WITHIN A PERIOD OF TEN (10) DORMANT YEARS THAT HIS FUND WILL BE REVERTED TO THE OWNERSHIP OF THE BANK, RE TRANSFERRED INTO THEIR ESCROW ACCOUNT, BE SHARED AMONG THEIR SHAREHOLDERS AND MY CLIENT ACCOUNT BE CONFISCATED. CAN THIS HAPPEN?

I THEREFORE SEND YOU THIS MAIL EXTENDING MY HAND OF FRIENDSHIP TO PRESENT YOU AS THE BONA FIDE FOREIGN BENEFICIARY AND NEXT OF KIN TO MY LATE CLIENT, SO THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER IN PARTNERSHIP AND HAVE THIS FUND CLAIMED FROM THE BANK. THE FUND WILL BE DEPOSITED INTO ANY ACCOUNT YOU WILL PROVIDE.

THE PROCESS INVOLVE IS VERY SIMPLE. IT WILL NOT TAKE MORE THAN 14 BANKING WORKING DAYS FROM TODAY TO BE CONCLUDED IF YOU FOLLOW ALL MY INSTRUCTIONS ACCORDINGLY. I ALSO INTEND TO INVEST INTO REAL ESTATE.

IF I HEAR FROM YOU, I WILL TELL YOU THE OPERATIONAL AND LEGAL PROCESS INVOLVE TO CLAIM THIS FUND AND HAVE IT TRANSFERRED INTO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT FOR OUR MUTUAL BENEFIT. IT IS A VERY SIMPLE PROCESS.

I WILL LIKE YOU TO INCLUDE YOUR FULL NAME, FULL ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER FOR VOICE DISCUSSION IN MY PRIVATE CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS: chamber.william@yahoo.com.hk

AND ALSO CALL ME ON MY SOUTH AFRICAN PHONE NUMBER# +27837707483 AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS MAIL FOR FURTHER CONFIDENTIAL DISCUSSION AS I AM CURRENTLY HERE TO SORT THING OUT WITH THE BANK

THE MODALITY INVOLVE FOR SHARING OF THE MONEY WILL BE DISCUSSED BETWEEN THE TWO OF US ON AGREED TERMS TO BE LEGALLY SIGNED AND SEALED.

SINCERELY YOURS,

BARRISTER WILLIAM WOOD QC.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam