419 scam: "Barrister Williams Jackson . ESQ" <shihy@icemail.nknu.edu.tw> WILL AND TESTAMENT

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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:
- "barrister" (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 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.
- wiljackson34@googlemail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: wiljackson34@googlemail.com
Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2009 07:41:10 +0800
Subject: WILL AND TESTAMENT

WILL AND TESTAMENT

Dear beneficiary

On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late Engr. John
Ferguson; I once again try to notify you as my earlier letter was returned
undelivered.

I hereby attempt to reach you again by this same email address stated on the
WILL. I wish to notify you that late Engr. John Ferguson made you a
beneficiary
to his WILL. He left the sum of Seven Million Great British Pounds (GBP
£7,000.000.00 ) to you in the codicil and last testament to his WILL.

Being a widely travelled man, he must have been in contact with you in
the past
or simply you were recommended to him by one of his numerous friends
abroad who
wished you good. Engr. John Ferguson until his death was a member of the
Helicopter Society and the Institute of Electronic &Electrical Engineers. He
was a very dedicated Christian who loved to be involved in charitable
projects.
His great philanthropy earned him numerous awards during his life time.

Late Engr.John Ferguson died on the 13th day of December, 2004 at the
age of 80
years, and his WILL is now ready for execution. According to him this money is
to support your humanitarian activities and to help the poor and the needy in
our society.

Please if I reach you this time as I am hopeful, endeavour to get back
to me as
soon as possible to enable me conclude my job.

I hope to hear from you in no distant time.

Yours in Service,

Barrister Williams Jackson . ESQ
EMAIL: wiljackson34@googlemail.com

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