419 scam: "Eiric Williams" <info@usa.com> PLEASE TREAT AS URGENT.

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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:
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- zipraandtech2@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Eiric Williams" <info@usa.com>
Reply-To: zipraandtech2@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 08 Aug 2022 15:02:01 -0700
Subject: PLEASE TREAT AS URGENT.

ATTN:

PLEASE TREAT AS ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENTIAL !! My name is EIRIC WILLIAMS NKONO esq. , I am the private attorney to Mr. Edward Forster(Engr).
I am contacting you presently because I need your urgent assistance in a business transaction that will be of immense benefit to both of us. I have the immediate need to transfer some money that has long been declared "UNCLAIMED" by the chairman and executive members of the board of directors of the AUB, bank.

The money is the closing balance of my client, Late Engr. Edward Forster,I was his personal attorney just before he died in the ADC plane crash of 1996.
Engr. Edward Forster, an American citizen was a contractor with the Russian Federation among a few other private investments. He supplied and installed equipment and his company, Richland Contractors completed some of the best construction contracts in the country. His closing balance in the bank, Atlantic Union Bank (US$25.5Million) has been tagged unclaimed because no relative of Engr. Edward Forster has come forward to make a statement of claim.
We have no knowledge of any next of kin. At this point I trust you can picture what the situation is like. We have strong proof that the chairman and the board of directors will keep most of the money for themselves and donate the remainder to a discredited military trust in the United States. This invariably is an attempt to infuse more money into the acquisition of military equipment (arms and ammunition) for use in an already United States Trust Funds.

This of course, is senseless, hence my mission. I have made several attempts at locating persons that could be remotely related to Engr. Edward Forster, and i have been doing this for about 2 years now. Right now I am alone in this enterprise and I have presently decided on moving the money to a foreign account. I am hereby soliciting your assistance and I will be very grateful if you will be willing to help in this regard. We have access to all what it will take to transfer the money to any account you shall provide. The only thing we do not have is a safe account.

I shall provide you with answers to all the security questions, which you will have to answer to move the process towards completion. I will also provide you answers to questions that only a person related to him will know. You may however not need to make any appearance, every thing will be concluded on phone,email and fax between you and the bank,and for your participation you will get 35%, 5% has been earmarked for the expenses that may be incurred on both ends. 60% shall be for my colleague and I. I make this proposal in trust and in good faith. therefore, if you are interested and you agree to assist me then contact me immediately , and send your banking details, direct phone number,contact address and copy of your identification.

There is a lot more to talk about.
If you are not interested, then, please, do get rid of this email and please forgive me if this message has upset you in any way.
Thank you and best regards

Barr. Eiric Williams N.
zipraandtech2@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam