419 scam: "Barrister GIMI WILLIAMS Esq"<femiwilliams85@gmail.com> NEXT OF KIN...

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "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. )
- "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.)
- "sani abacha" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
- kolawilliams2011@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barrister GIMI WILLIAMS Esq" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kolawilliams2011@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 8 May 2012 18:48:26 +0100
Subject: NEXT OF KIN...

GIMI WILLIAMS & ASSOCIATES
137 MARYLAND ROAD,
LAGOS,NIGERIA.
EMAIL:(kolawilliams2011@gmail.com)

Dear Sir/Madam,
I am Barrister GIMI WILLIAMS a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to Mr. Douglas Anthony, a national of your country who used to work with shell development company in Nigeria and as well a one time secret agent in transferring of money overseas for the Late head of state of Nigeria {Late
Gen.SANI ABACHA}.Before his death On the 21st of April 2006 [my client,his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident along sagbama express road in which all occupants of the motor died}.My client {Douglas} deposited the sum of $18.5 Million in an account with a Bank
here in Nigeria for himself, with the hope of transferring it to his country as soon as he is on leave. Since his death I have made several esquires about my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to check over the Internet on any member of his family hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money left behind by my client before the money get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Bank where these Money is Deposited.
Particularly the bank where the deceased Deposited the $18.5 Million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin within the next Fourteen official working days.Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased so that the

Money valued at $18.5 Million dollars can be claimed by you and then you and I can share the money.50% to me and 50% to you. I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see 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 get in touch with me by my privateemailaddress(kolawilliams2011@gmail.com),with the following information; your full names and address, your occupation, your date of birth and your phone and fax numbers

(1) Your contact address:.......
(2) Your Mobile/Fax numbers:....
(3) Your Nationality/Country:....
(4) Your Full Name:.....
(5) Occupation/Company:....
(6) Age/Gender:....
(7) Email.......

Thank you and God bless.

Barrister GIMI WILLIAMS Esq

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam