419 scam: "REV.JAMES WILLIAMS"<williams10james@yahoo.ca> Re:18-01-2010

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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "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.
- +447035978683 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "REV.JAMES WILLIAMS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <williams10james@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:37:08 +0100
Subject: Re:18-01-2010

Freedom Chambers
The Barn House,
38 Meadow Way
Eastcote
Ruislip
HA4 8TB
Tel:+447035978683

Dear Friend,

I am Rev. James Williams,an attorney and solicitor with Freedom Chambers.

Please be patient and absorb the contents of this email which I believe is a message that will be beneficial to the both of us.

I am the legal representative to Late Joseph Bowell,a Canadian national who herein after shall be referred to as my late client.
Who died in March 2008 as a result of cancer.Until his death he was a contractor with Shell Petroleum.

Basically, my aim of writing you is to assist me secure the funds left behind by my client before it is confiscated or
declared unserviceable by the bank where this fund valued at $7.5million dollars was deposited.

I have a mandate from the bank to present the next of kin to the deceased or the funds will be confiscated and so far,all my efforts to get hold of someone related to this man has proved abortive.

I want you to consider this proposal. If you grant your consent that I present you to the bank as the next-of-kin and beneficiary of my deceased client ,so that the proceeds of this account can be transferred to you, then we can share the entire proceeds on a mutually agreed-upon percentage.

All legal documentation to back up your claim as my deceased client's next-of-kin will be provided. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through.

This entire process will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

However,if this business proposition offends your moral values, do accept my apology. Please contact me at once to indicate your interest.

Best Regards,

Rev.James Williams (ESQ).

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam