An Incredibly Personalized Email Scam
Tuesday October 19, 2004
I received an email that was a little different the other day. It wasn't your typical Nigerian advanced fee scheme, nor was it the Canadian Lottery scam. It was addressed to me, used my name, and included my family name in the content of the message. It really seemed as if this person might have been looking for me.
This email indicated that a person with the same last name as mine had died several years ago and they were looking for heirs. The amount of money mentioned was astronomical, of course. I know it is possible for attorneys to search for heirs to unclaimed fortunes (this actually happened to my cousin last year--no scam!) but there are legitimate ways to check on the information, and answering this email is not one of them. Here's the text of the email I received. If you get a similar one, don't even bother researching it. Either report it to your Internet Service Provider or simply hit the delete key.
Dear Judy Hedding
It is with trust and believe that I write to you. I am Barrister Franklin Ali, a Solicitor at Law. I am the personal attorney to Mr. William Hedding a National of your Country, who used to work with Shell development Company here in Nigeria.
On the 21st of April 2001, my client, his wife and their only daughter were involved in a car accident along sagamu express road Ondo State. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several inquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.
After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in recovering the fund valued at US$15.4Million left behind by my client before it gets confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Security Finance Firm in where this huge amount were deposited.
The said Security Finance Company has issued me a notice to provide the Next of Kin or have the account confiscated within the next twenty-one official working days. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years now, I seek the consent to present you as the Next of Kin to the deceased since you bear his last names, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you.
Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall then discuss the sharing ratio and modalities for transfer. I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up for claim. All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee you that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
I would be grateful if this mail will be favoured with an early reply via the above email address.
Best regards,
Barrister Franklin Ali (SAN)
Related Resources
More Scams and Frauds-Beware!!
This email indicated that a person with the same last name as mine had died several years ago and they were looking for heirs. The amount of money mentioned was astronomical, of course. I know it is possible for attorneys to search for heirs to unclaimed fortunes (this actually happened to my cousin last year--no scam!) but there are legitimate ways to check on the information, and answering this email is not one of them. Here's the text of the email I received. If you get a similar one, don't even bother researching it. Either report it to your Internet Service Provider or simply hit the delete key.
Dear Judy Hedding
It is with trust and believe that I write to you. I am Barrister Franklin Ali, a Solicitor at Law. I am the personal attorney to Mr. William Hedding a National of your Country, who used to work with Shell development Company here in Nigeria.
On the 21st of April 2001, my client, his wife and their only daughter were involved in a car accident along sagamu express road Ondo State. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several inquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.
After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in recovering the fund valued at US$15.4Million left behind by my client before it gets confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Security Finance Firm in where this huge amount were deposited.
The said Security Finance Company has issued me a notice to provide the Next of Kin or have the account confiscated within the next twenty-one official working days. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years now, I seek the consent to present you as the Next of Kin to the deceased since you bear his last names, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you.
Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall then discuss the sharing ratio and modalities for transfer. I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up for claim. All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee you that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
I would be grateful if this mail will be favoured with an early reply via the above email address.
Best regards,
Barrister Franklin Ali (SAN)
Related Resources
More Scams and Frauds-Beware!!
Comments
Here is a scam I just received like the one you had mentioned. Most key elements are the same. They used my last name in the Subject Line and once where I removed it.
************************
PARTNERSHIP BUSINESS
My name is Mr.Daniel Konate, a Banker and accountant with one of the prime Banks in Abidjan Cote d’Ivoire. I am the personal accounts manager to Eng. Morrison (Last Name Removed),a National of your country, who used to work with an oil servicing company here in Cote Ivoire.
My client, his wife, and their three children were involved in the ill fated Kenya Airways crash in the coasts of Abidjan in January 2000 in which all passengers on board died. Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives but has been unsuccessful.
After several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his last name over the internet,to see if I could locate any member of his family hence I contacted you,of particular interest is this huge deposit with our bank here in,where the deceased has an account valued at about ($16 million US dollars).They have issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or the bank will declare the account unservisable and thereby send the funds to the bank treasury.
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over last 7 years now, I will seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last names, so that the proceeds of this account valued at ($16million US dollars) can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money.
All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under all legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
If you can handle this with me, reach me now through this email.
Thanking you for your anticipated cooperation. In your reply mail, give your full names, address, date of birth, telephone and fax numbers.
Daniel Konate
> This is an e-mail my 14 year old son received, scary!
> Good Day,
>
> This is a personal email directed to you and I request that it be treated as such. I must solicit your Confidentiality and assure you that I am contacting you in good faith and this proposal will be of mutual benefit. I am Daniel Zimmerman, a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney/sole executor to the late Mr. Mark A—– hereinafter referred to as my client who worked as an independent oil magnate in my country, who died in a car crash with his immediate family in East London on the 5Th of November 2001.
>
> My late client a formal Sub-Comptroller working with Chevron Texaco Oil here in the United Kingdom and had Left behind a deposit of Nine Million Eight Hundred Thousand British Pounds Sterling only (£9.8million) with a bank. After the death of my client, the finance company contacted me, as his attorney to provide his Next of kin who should inherit his fortune this according to them is their policy in sure circumstances.
>
> Since the death of my client, I have written several letters to the embassy with intent to locate any of his extended relatives whom shall be claimants/beneficiaries of his abandoned personal estate and all such efforts have been to no avail. I had to inform the finance company about my fruitless effort in locating my late client close relative or His next of kin.
>
> The board of directors of the company just adopted a resolution and I was mandated to provide his next of kin for the payment of this money within the next 15 official working days or forfeit the money as an abandoned funds. The company had planned to invoke the abandoned property decree of the company to confiscate the funds after the expiration of the period given me. Also I have received official letters in the last two days suggesting a likely proceeding for confiscation of his abandoned personal assets in line with existing laws of the institution.
>
> Well I have reasons very professional and I can use a legal means to present a next of kin of my deceased client. This is legally possible and would be done in accordance with the laws of the land. On this note I decided to search for a credible person and finding that you bear a similar last name, I was urged to contact you, that I may, with your consent, present you to the “Trustee” as my late client’s family members as to enable you put up a claim to the bank in that capacity as a next of kin of my client.
>
> I find this possible for the fuller reasons that you are of the same nationality and you bear a similar last name with my late client making it a lot easier for you to put up a claim in that capacity. I have all vital documents that would confer you the legal right to make this claim and would make them available to you so that the proceeds of this bank account valued at £9.8million can be paid to you before it gets confiscated or declared unserviceable to the bank where this huge amount is lodged.
>
> I do sincerely sympathize the death of my client but think it is unprofitable for his funds to be submitted to the government of this country or some financial institution. My aim is to retrieve these funds and let it be claimed by the deceased family Lineage, etc. for this I seek your assistance since I have been unable to locate the relatives for the past 7 years now
>
> I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name giving you the advantage so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you and then both of us can share the money, 60% to me and 40% to you. I know there might be other persons out there with the same surname as my last client, but after a little check my instinct tells me to contact you. Can I trust you on this? I shall assemble all the necessary documents that will be used to back up your claim.
>
> I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law. I will not fail to bring to your notice that this proposal is hitch-free and that you should not entertain any fears as the required arrangements have been made for the completion of this transfer.
>
> Like I said, I require only a solemn confidentiality on this. Please get in touch with me by my alternative email danielzimmermanesq48@hotmail.com for better confidentiality and send to me your telephone and fax numbers to enable us discuss further on this transaction. My contact number is +44-703-592-5832. If this proposal is acceptable by you, do not take undue advantage of the trust I have bestowed in you, Thanks for your understanding.
>
> Regards.
>
> Daniel Zimmerman.
> +44-703-592-5832 Or (Cell +44-702-403-1517 Weekdays Mondays-Fridays Only)
>
> N.B
> When calling you dial your country calling code which I think is 011+my number (+44-703-592-5832). That is (011-44-703-592-5832). You can also confirm the code from your service provider.
The following email was sent to me by “Barrister michael lee”
MICHAEL LEE & CO.
1ST FLOOR JALAN SUSUR
BATU 21, TAMAN NAM TAK
80000 KUALA LUMPUR
MALAYSIA
Good Day,
I am michael lee, an attorney at law. A deceased client of mine, who hereinafter shall be referred to as my client, died as the result of a heart-related condition on the 11 November 2001. His heart condition was due to the death of all the members of his family in the Gulf Air Flight Crashes in Persian Gulf Near Bahrain Aired August 23, 2000 – 2:50 p.m. ET as reported on:http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0008/23/bn.08.html
I have contacted you to assist in distributing the money left behind by my client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this deposit valued at EIGHTEEN MILLION TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS. ($18,200.000.00 USD). is lodged.
This bank has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or the account will be confiscated.
My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the next-of-kin and beneficiary of my named client, since you have the same last name, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. Then we can share the amount on a mutually agreed-upon percentage.
All legal documents to back up your claim as my client’s next-of-kin will be provided. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through.
This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from many breach of the law. If this business proposition offends your moral values, do accept my apology.
I must use this opportunity to implore you to exercise the utmost indulgence to keep this matter extraordinary confidential, whatever your decision, while I await your prompt response. Please contact me at once to indicate your interest.
Pls get back to me on this address:
barr_michael_lee12@hotmail.co.uk
Best Regards,
Barrister michael lee
(Attorney at Law)
Yes, these are all scams.
I have just received a scam letter stating a relative has left anextremely large sum of money. His immediate family were killed in tha Gulf Air plane which crashed in the Persian Gulf in the year 2000. There were, in fact two Brits who died in this crash so the sender has done some homework. I really don’t know whether to string this fraudster along or leave well alone-probably the latter.
The name of the “attorney at law”-not even British-is
George Teng
Jireh Building
No 43-4 Mezzanine floor
Jalan Mohd Salleh
83000 Batu Pahat
e-mail george.teng0010@hotmail.com
How do you report these people because there is no doubt that someone will lose money through this scam
Mr. Miller,
It is a waste of your time to string them along. They don’t care.
This article might help if you want to report the email.
here is one I got today in email.. I did reply.. giving them the phone number of the local state police in my area.. HOpe that helps them : )
Read email below..
Good Day,
My name is Patrick Chan, I work with HANG SENG BANK, Hong Kong.I have a
Business Proposal of $24,500,000.00 for you to handle with me from my bank.I
will need you to assist me in executing this Business Project from
Hong Kong to
your country. If interested, please reply with your full Contact Details.
Patrick Chan
Mr Teng is a busy dude!
Dear bill,
I am Mr. George Teng Esq. I work for SIMON TONG & PARTNERS, a leading law firm in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia . I have an obscure business proposal for you.
My client Mr. Steven bray a Merchant, made a fixed deposit of USD 12.8M for 2 years with my bank. Upon maturity several notices were sent to him to no avail.
It was later discovered that he and his family were killed in Iraq war. I prefer you to reach me with the below if you are interested to cooperate with me and consummate this deal.
Kindly reply to my private email : barrister_georgeteng@lawyer.com
Sincerely,
George Teng Esq.
i’ve just got a e-mail that is just like the others and i want to know what kind of scam it is? does anyone know what happens ? i’ve called the numbers on the email and talked to the person steven walker but im still not sure what the scam is? her is the letter i got!
ATTN:
This is a personal email directed to you and I request that it be treated as such. I must solicit your Confidentiality and assure you that I am contacting you in good faith and this proposal will be of mutual benefit. I am Steven Walker, a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney/sole executo to the late Mr. Mark Mapel hereinafter referred to as my client who worked as an independent oil magnate in my country, who died in a car crash with his immediate family in East London on the 5Th of November 2001.
My late client a formal Sub-Comptroller working with Chevron Texaco Oil here in the United Kingdom and had Left behind a deposit of Nine Million,Eigth Hundred Thousand Great British Pounds Sterling only(£9.8million) with a bank. After the death of my client, the finance company contacted me, as his attorney to provide his Next of kin who should inherit his fortune this according to them is their policy in sure circumstances. Since the death of my client, I have written several letters to the embassy with intent to locate any of his extended relatives whom shall beclaimants/beneficiaries of his abandoned personal estate and all such efforts have been to no avail. I had to inform the finance company about my fruitless effort in locating my late client close relative or His next of kin.
The board of directors of the company just adopted a resolution and I was mandated to provide his next of kin for the payment of this money within the next 15 official working days or forfeit the money as an abandoned funds. The company had planned to invoke the abandoned property decree of the company to confiscate the funds after the expiration of the period given me. Also I have received official letters in the last two days suggesting a likely proceeding for confiscation of his abandoned personal assets in line with existing laws of the institution.
Well I have reasons very professional and I can use a legal means to present a next of kin of my deceased client. This is legally possible and would be done in accordance with the laws of the land. On this note I decided to search for a credible person and finding that you bear a similar last name, I was urged to contact you, that I may, with your consent, present you to the”Trustee” as my late client’s family members as to enable you put up a claim to the bank in that capacity as a next of kin of my client.
I find this possible for the fuller reasons that you are of the same nationality and you bear a similar last name with my late client making it a lot easier for you to put up a claim in that capacity. I have all vital documents that would confer you the legal right to make this claim and would make them available to you so that the proceeds of this bank account valued at £9.8million can be paid to you before it gets confiscated or declared unserviceable to the bank where this huge amount is lodged.
I do sincerely sympathize the death of my client but think it is unprofitable for his funds to be submitted to the government of this country some financial institution. My aim is to retrieve these funds and let it be claimed by the deceased family Lineage, etc. for this I seek your assistance since I have been unable to locate the relatives for the past 7 years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name giving you the advantage so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you and then both of us can share the money, 60% to me and 40% to you. I know there might be other persons out there with the same surname as my late client, but after a little check my instinct tells me to contact you. Can I trust you on this? I shall assemble all the necessary documents that will be used to back up your claim.
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law. I will not fail to bring to your notice that this proposal is hitch-free and that you should not entertain any fears as the required arrangements have been made for the completion of this transfer. Like I said, I require only a solemn confidentiality on this. Please get in touch with me by my alternative email: steven_walker12@hotmail.com for better confidentiality and send to me your telephone and fax numbers to enable us discuss further on this transaction. My contact number is +44 702 4069 682 +44 702 4010 988. If this proposal is acceptable by you, do not take undue advantage of the trust I have bestowed in you, Thanks for your understanding.
Best Regards.
Barrister Steven Walker
When calling you dial your country calling code which I think is 011+my number (+44 702 4069 682) You can also confirm the code from your service provider
Hi Bridgette,
You’ll eventually be asked to come up with fees to continue with the transaction. I’m not sure why you care, since it is clearly a scam. Do you think that a legitimate Barrister from the UK dealing in uses a hotmail email address “for better confidentiality” in a $15 million deal??
no, i was just wondering what the scam was. the guy who wrote me the letter keeps calling me and im not sure if i should report him to someone or what?
Probably shouldn’t have given him your phone number. You can certainly try to report him, but I doubt you have any real information about who he is. Here is my page on reporting scams.
http://phoenix.about.com/od/scam1/a/complaint.htm
I am so glad you posted your email about the scam. I too got the same email with a little difference in the text. They used my married last name but the rest was almost exact the same. Car accident, death of family, same year as yours, different date. I too almost fell for it until my daughter came over and helped me search and find this page.
It was upsetting at first because I have a nephew with the same name they used.
I quess I won’t be a millionaire!!
Again thanks.
Mine outright asks me to engage in fraud with them. If they leave addresses and phone number with their correspondence, do they not expect a person to check that out? I mean, how hard is it to google and addy or phone number anyway? With the invention of VoIP services and others that make it possible to make an overseas call for real cheap, do they not think you will?
Obviously some people fall for it somewhere, but it must be far less profitable for them now that information is so easy to obtain. (IP address can be logged by email and looked up as well.)
Bridgette:
I got the very same email, nearly verbatim in my email today. All they did was change the names.
I Recieved this email on the 8th March 2009:
Subject: Hello
Good Day,
This is a personal email directed to you and I request that it be treated as such. I must solicit your Confidentiality and assure you that I am contacting you in good faith and this proposal will be of mutual benefit. I am Richard Snowden, a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney/sole executor to the late Mr. Mark hereinafter referred to as my client who worked as an independent oil magnate in my country, who died in a car crash with his immediate family in East London on the 5Th of November 2001.
My late client a formal Sub-Comptroller working with Chevron Texaco Oil here in the United Kingdom and had Left behind a deposit of Nine Million Eight Hundred Thousand British Pounds Sterling only (£9.8million) with a bank. After the death of my client, the finance company contacted me, as his attorney to provide his Next of kin who should inherit his fortune this according to them is their policy in sure circumstances.
Since the death of my client, I have written several letters to the embassy with intent to locate any of his extended relatives whom shall be claimants/beneficiaries of his abandoned personal estate and all such efforts have been to no avail. I had to inform the finance company about my fruitless effort in locating my late client close relative or His next of kin.
The board of directors of the company just adopted a resolution and I was mandated to provide his next of kin for the payment of this money within the next 15 official working days or forfeit the money as an abandoned funds. The company had planned to invoke the abandoned property decree of the company to confiscate the funds after the expiration of the period given me. Also I have received official letters in the last two days suggesting a likely proceeding for confiscation of his abandoned personal assets in line with existing laws of the institution.
Well I have reasons very professional and I can use a legal means to present a next of kin of my deceased client. This is legally possible and would be done in accordance with the laws of the land. On this note I decided to search for a credible person, I was urged to contact you, that I may, with your consent, present you to the “Trustee” as my late client’s family members as to enable you put up a claim to the bank in that capacity as a next of kin of my client.
I have all vital documents that would confer you the legal right to make this claim and would make them available to you so that the proceeds of this bank account valued at £9.8million can be paid to you before it gets confiscated or declared unserviceable to the bank where this huge amount is lodged.
I do sincerely sympathize the death of my client but think it is unprofitable for his funds to be submitted to the government of this country or some financial institution. My aim is to retrieve these funds and let it be claimed by the deceased family Lineage, etc. for this I seek your assistance since I have been unable to locate the relatives for the past 8 years now
I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you and then both of us can share the money, 60% to me and 40% to you. Can I trust you on this? I shall assemble all the necessary documents that will be used to back up your claim.
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law. I will not fail to bring to your notice that this proposal is hitch-free and that you should not entertain any fears as the required arrangements have been made for the completion of this transfer.
Like I said, I require only a solemn confidentiality on this. Please get in touch with me by my alternative email richardsnnowden1@live.com for better confidentiality and send to me your telephone and fax numbers to enable us discuss further on this transaction. My contact number is +44-703-592-5832. If this proposal is acceptable by you, do not take undue advantage of the trust I have bestowed in you, Thanks for your understanding.
Regards.
Richard Snowden.
Erskine Chambers
33 Chancery Lane
London
WC2A 1EN
Phone: +44-703-592-5832.
Cell: +44 702 405 6867 OR +44 702 405 9655( Weekdays Mondays-Fridays Only).
Fax: +44-700-596-1152N.B
When calling you dial your country calling code which I think is 011+my number (+44-703-592-5832). That is (011-44-703-592-5832). You can also confirm the code from your service provider.
——————————————–
This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program,part of the Horde framework and provided by HomeFreeMail.com.
I received the same email as above today too from ‘Richard Snowdon’
I just got this email .. this time from a Richard Snowden Esquire! Haha .. man, these guys are good. May they get arrested and violated in prison for the next 20 years!
Good Day,
This is a personal email directed to you and I request that it be treated as such. I must solicit your Confidentiality and assure you that I am contacting you in good faith and this proposal will be of mutual benefit. I am Richard Snowden, a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney/sole executor to the late Mr. Mark Headley hereinafter referred to as my client who worked as an independent oil magnate in my country, who died in a car crash with his immediate family in East London on the 5Th of November 2001.
My late client a formal Sub-Comptroller working with Chevron Texaco Oil here in the United Kingdom and had Left behind a deposit of Nine Million Eight Hundred Thousand British Pounds Sterling only (£9.8million) with a bank. After the death of my client, the finance company contacted me, as his attorney to provide his Next of kin who should inherit his fortune this according to them is their policy in sure circumstances.
Since the death of my client, I have written several letters to the embassy with intent to locate any of his extended relatives whom shall be claimants/beneficiaries of his abandoned personal estate and all such efforts have been to no avail. I had to inform the finance company about my fruitless effort in locating my late client close relative or His next of kin.
The board of directors of the company just adopted a resolution and I was mandated to provide his next of kin for the payment of this money within the next 15 official working days or forfeit the money as an abandoned funds. The company had planned to invoke the abandoned property decree of the company to confiscate the funds after the expiration of the period given me. Also I have received official letters in the last two days suggesting a likely proceeding for confiscation of his abandoned personal assets in line with existing laws of the institution.
Well I have reasons very professional and I can use a legal means to present a next of kin of my deceased client. This is legally possible and would be done in accordance with the laws of the land. On this note I decided to search for a credible person and finding that you bear a similar last name, I was urged to contact you, that I may, with your consent, present you to the “Trustee” as my late client’s family members as to enable you put up a claim to the bank in that capacity as a next of kin of my client.
I find this possible for the fuller reasons that you are of the same nationality and you bear a similar last name with my late client making it a lot easier for you to put up a claim in that capacity. I have all vital documents that would confer you the legal right to make this claim and would make them available to you so that the proceeds of this bank account valued at £9.8million can be paid to you before it gets confiscated or declared unserviceable to the bank where this huge amount is lodged.
I do sincerely sympathize the death of my client but think it is unprofitable for his funds to be submitted to the government of this country or some financial institution. My aim is to retrieve these funds and let it be claimed by the deceased family Lineage, etc. for this I seek your assistance since I have been unable to locate the relatives for the past 7 years now
I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name giving you the advantage so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you and then both of us can share the money, 60% to me and 40% to you. I know there might be other persons out there with the same surname as my last client, but after a little check my instinct tells me to contact you. Can I trust you on this? I shall assemble all the necessary documents that will be used to back up your claim.
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law. I will not fail to bring to your notice that this proposal is hitch-free and that you should not entertain any fears as the required arrangements have been made for the completion of this transfer.
Like I said, I require only a solemn confidentiality on this. Please get in touch with me by my alternative email richardsnow19_esq@live.com for better confidentiality and send to me your telephone and fax numbers to enable us discuss further on this transaction. My contact number is +44-703-592-5832. If this proposal is acceptable by you, do not take undue advantage of the trust I have bestowed in you, Thanks for your understanding.
Regards.
Richard Snowden.
Erskine Chambers
33 Chancery Lane
London
WC2A 1EN
Phone: +44-703-592-5832.
Cell: +44-702-403-1517 OR +44-702-404-5753( Weekdays Mondays-Fridays Only).
Fax: +44-700-596-1152
N.B
When calling you dial your country calling code which I think is 011+my number (+44-703-592-5832). That is (011-44-703-592-5832). You can also confirm the code from your service provider.
I received the exact e-mail last Friday (04-24-2009) with the exception of the last name. The oil engineer carried my last name, of course. I did suspect the fraud but I checked the name of the sender (the attorney in London) anyway. Apparently there is a Richard Snowdon in a law office in London, or maybe the con also fabricated that website. If there is such an attorney I wonder if he should know about this so maybe he can also report the scam to the British authorities.
Veniamin
i received the exact same email as buttonsoup’s son just a few minutes ago. Knowing it was a scam instantly through pure logic, i decided to try to search for a few things. I googled the date my “deceased relative” passed and what do you know, i was led here where it was confirmed to be a scam. I urge all people to look at any “you inherited this” or “an opportunity for that” emails with logic and wisdom.
remember, nowadays, even if it doesn’t look too good to be true, it may still be a scam.
I have to admit that my head is spinning when I consider how many of the respondents in this forum actually considered that the obviously fake email was real. Oh brother…
my email adress is maniexx@(iwon’ttellyou).com
i got this mail:
so, it’s similar, but they don’t know my real surname nor name – i’m callled franek zak, not mani.
Dear Mani,
I have written an earlier mail to you but no response.
In my first mail I mentioned to you about my late client who deposited some fund with a Security/Finance Company here in UK before he died in April 2004. He bears the same surname with you.
Since his death I have received several letters from the Bank where he deposited the fund before his death, to provide his next of kin or any of his relatives who can make claim to the funds before the end of the year or the Security/Finance Company will be left with no option than to confiscate the consignment and turn the money back to the state. As it has been marked unclaimed for 4 years. I have conducted my personal search to see if I can make contact with any of his relatives but without success, it is in the course of my effort that I have to contact you.
I have closely checked and since you bear the same surname with my deceased client it will be better to present you as the next of kin and the right beneficiary of the funds in the account.
The total sum left in the account is $15M (Fifteen Million United States Dollars) I will provide you with all the necessary legal backing that is required until this money is paid out to you, and then we shall share it base on our agreement.
Do respond quick if you are interested or should you need further clarification because we have no much time left.
Thanks and God bless.
Richard Coleman
[7e8o3ai39g0]
I googled this and found that Email and Address of company are real place but the Phone number does not match.
Then I Googled East London on the 5th of November 2001 and found this site.
Very weird
Good Day,
This is a personal email directed to you and I request that it be treated as such. I must solicit your Confidentiality and assure you that I am contacting you in good faith and this proposal will be of mutual benefit. I am Richard Ferguson, a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney/sole executor to the late Mr. Mark “Lastname” hereinafter referred to as my client who worked as an independent oil magnate in my country, who died in a car crash with his immediate family in East London on the 5th of November 2001.
My late client a formal Sub-Comptroller working with Chevron Texaco Oil here in the United Kingdom and had Left behind a deposit of Nine Million Eight Hundred Thousand British Pounds Sterling only (£9.8million) with a bank. After the death of my client, the finance company contacted me, as his attorney to provide his Next of kin who should inherit his fortune this according to them is their policy in sure circumstances.
Since the death of my client, I have written several letters to the embassy with intent to locate any of his extended relatives whom shall be claimants/beneficiaries of his abandoned personal estate and all such efforts have been to no avail. I had to inform the finance company about my fruitless effort in locating my late client close relative or His next of kin.
The board of directors of the company just adopted a resolution and I was mandated to provide his next of kin for the payment of this money within the next 15 official working days or forfeit the money as an abandoned funds. The company had planned to invoke the abandoned property decree of the company to confiscate the funds after the expiration of the period given me. Also I have received official letters in the last two days suggesting a likely proceeding for confiscation of his abandoned personal assets in line with existing laws of the institution.
Well I have reasons very professional and I can use a legal means to present a next of kin of my deceased client. This is legally possible and would be done in accordance with the laws of the land. On this note I decided to search for a credible person and finding that you bear a similar last name, I was urged to contact you, that I may, with your consent, present you to the “Trustee” as my late client’s family members as to enable you put up a claim to the bank in that capacity as a next of kin of my client.
I find this possible for the fuller reasons that you are of the same nationality and you bear a similar last name with my late client making it a lot easier for you to put up a claim in that capacity. I have all vital documents that would confer you the legal right to make this claim and would make them available to you so that the proceeds of this bank account valued at £9.8 million can be paid to you before it gets confiscated or declared unserviceable to the bank where this huge amount is lodged.
I do sincerely express sympathy over the death of my client but I think it is unprofitable for his funds to be submitted to the government of this country or some financial institution. My aim is to retrieve these funds and let it be claimed by the deceased family Lineage, etc. for this I seek your assistance since I have been unable to locate the relatives for the past 7 years now
I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name giving you the advantage so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you and then both of us can share the money, 60% to me and 40% to you. I know there might be other persons out there with the same surname as my last client, but after a little check my instinct tells me to contact you. Can I trust you on this? I shall assemble all the necessary documents that will be used to back up your claim.
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law. I will not fail to bring to your notice that this proposal is hitch-free and that you should not entertain any fears as the required arrangements have been made for the completion of this transfer.
Like I said, I require only a solemn confidentiality on this. Please get in touch with me by my alternative email: frichard65esq01@hotmail.com for better confidentiality and send me your telephone and fax numbers to enable us discuss further on this transaction. My contact numbers are +44-703-595-7694,+44-703-599-1526. If this proposal is acceptable by you, do not take undue advantage of the trust I have bestowed in you, Thanks for your understanding.
Regards
Richard Ferguson QC
Carmelite Chambers
9 Carmelite Street, London, EC4Y 0DR
Tel: +44-703-595-7694,+44-703-599-1526
Fax: +44-7005-961-693
N.B
When calling dial your country calling code which I think is 011+ my number (+44-703-595-7694 or +44-703-599-1526). That is (011-44-703-595-7694 or 011-44-703-599-1526), You can also confirm the code from your service provider.
I just got this e-mail.
Now it was easy to say it was fraud because it is my married name, and how would they know my nationality? Anyway I do know several people who dont listen to the rest of us sane people with fraud.
Good Day,
This is a personal email directed to you and I request that it be treated as such. I must solicit your Confidentiality and assure you that I am contacting you in good faith and this proposal will be of mutual benefit. I am Christopher Kinch QC, a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney/sole executor to the late Mr. Mark Tetmeyer hereinafter referred to as my client who worked as an independent oil magnate in my country, who died in a car crash with his immediate family in East London on the 5Th of November 2001.
My late client a formal Sub-Comptroller working with Chevron Texaco Oil here in the United Kingdom and had Left behind a deposit of Nine Million Eight Hundred Thousand British Pounds Sterling only (£9.8million) with a bank. After the death of my client, the finance company contacted me, as his attorney to provide his Next of kin who should inherit his fortune this according to them is their policy in sure circumstances.
Since the death of my client, I have written several letters to the embassy with intent to locate any of his extended relatives whom shall be claimants/beneficiaries of his abandoned personal estate and all such efforts have been to no avail. I had to inform the finance company about my fruitless effort in locating my late client close relative or His next of kin.
The board of directors of the company just adopted a resolution and I was mandated to provide his next of kin for the payment of this money within the next 15 official working days or forfeit the money as an abandoned funds. The company had planned to invoke the abandoned property decree of the company to confiscate the funds after the expiration of the period given me. Also I have received official letters in the last two days suggesting a likely proceeding for confiscation of his abandoned personal assets in line with existing laws of the institution.
Well I have reasons very professional and I can use a legal means to present a next of kin of my deceased client. This is legally possible and would be done in accordance with the laws of the land. On this note I decided to search for a credible person and finding that you bear a similar last name, I was urged to contact you, that I may, with your consent, present you to the “Trustee” as my late client’s family members as to enable you put up a claim to the bank in that capacity as a next of kin of my client.
I find this possible for the fuller reasons that you are of the same nationality and you bear a similar last name with my late client making it a lot easier for you to put up a claim in that capacity. I have all vital documents that would confer you the legal right to make this claim and would make them available to you so that the proceeds of this bank account valued at £9.8million can be paid to you before it gets confiscated or declared unserviceable to the bank where this huge amount is lodged.
I do sincerely sympathize the death of my client but think it is unprofitable for his funds to be submitted to the government of this country or some financial institution. My aim is to retrieve these funds and let it be claimed by the deceased family Lineage, etc. for this I seek your assistance since I have been unable to locate the relatives for the past 7 years now
I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name giving you the advantage so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you and then both of us can share the money, 60% to me and 40% to you. I know there might be other persons out there with the same surname as my last client, but after a little check my instinct tells me to contact you. Can I trust you on this? I shall assemble all the necessary documents that will be used to back up your claim.
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law. I will not fail to bring to your notice that this proposal is hitch-free and that you should not entertain any fears as the required arrangements have been made for the completion of this transfer.
Like I said, I require only a solemn confidentiality on this. Please get in touch with me by my alternative email: agentkinch@gmail.com for better confidentiality and send to me your telephone and fax numbers to enable us discuss further on this transaction. My contact number is +44-702-407-6774. If this proposal is acceptable by you, do not take undue advantage of the trust I have bestowed in you, Thanks for your understanding.
Regards.
Christopher Kinch QC
Essex Chambers
23 Essex Street
London WC2R 3AA
(Cell +44-702-407-6774. Weekdays Mondays-Fridays Only)
Fax: +44-700-594-2691
Email : agentkinch@gmail.com
N.B: When calling you dial your country calling code which I think is 011+my number (+44-702-407-6774). That is (011-44-702-407-6774.). You can also confirm the code from your service provider.
They are still at it. I received an email today regarding a Mr Mark A…my last name died in east London on November 5, 2001. I tried to look up whether or not there was ever an accident & came upon this site. I knew it was a scam but wanted to make sure I really didn’t have a deceased relative since some of my relatives live in Germany where my great grandparents came from. It is really sad these people try to scam money out of people. They all need to get a life & a real job.
Yeah I got it too. I usually reply with “hey you’ve won a million dollars” to help them feel as annoyed as I do.
Good Day,
This is a personal email directed to you and I request that it be treated as such. I must solicit your Confidentiality and assure you that I am contacting you in good faith and this proposal will be of mutual benefit. I am Christopher Kinch QC, a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney/sole executor to the late Mr. Mark Dyer hereinafter referred to as my client who worked as an independent oil magnate in my country, who died in a car crash with his immediate family in East London on the 5Th of November 2001.
My late client a formal Sub-Comptroller working with Chevron Texaco Oil here in the United Kingdom and had Left behind a deposit of Nine Million Eight Hundred Thousand British Pounds Sterling only (£9.8million) with a bank. After the death of my client, the finance company contacted me, as his attorney to provide his Next of kin who should inherit his fortune this according to them is their policy in sure circumstances.
Since the death of my client, I have written several letters to the embassy with intent to locate any of his extended relatives whom shall be claimants/beneficiaries of his abandoned personal estate and all such efforts have been to no avail. I had to inform the finance company about my fruitless effort in locating my late client close relative or His next of kin.
The board of directors of the company just adopted a resolution and I was mandated to provide his next of kin for the payment of this money within the next 15 official working days or forfeit the money as an abandoned funds. The company had planned to invoke the abandoned property decree of the company to confiscate the funds after the expiration of the period given me. Also I have received official letters in the last two days suggesting a likely proceeding for confiscation of his abandoned personal assets in line with existing laws of the institution.
Well I have reasons very professional and I can use a legal means to present a next of kin of my deceased client. This is legally possible and would be done in accordance with the laws of the land. On this note I decided to search for a credible person and finding that you bear a similar last name, I was urged to contact you, that I may, with your consent, present you to the “Trustee” as my late client’s family members as to enable you put up a claim to the bank in that capacity as a next of kin of my client.
I find this possible for the fuller reasons that you are of the same nationality and you bear a similar last name with my late client making it a lot easier for you to put up a claim in that capacity. I have all vital documents that would confer you the legal right to make this claim and would make them available to you so that the proceeds of this bank account valued at £9.8million can be paid to you before it gets confiscated or declared unserviceable to the bank where this huge amount is lodged.
I do sincerely sympathize the death of my client but think it is unprofitable for his funds to be submitted to the government of this country or some financial institution. My aim is to retrieve these funds and let it be claimed by the deceased family Lineage, etc. for this I seek your assistance since I have been unable to locate the relatives for the past 7 years now
I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name giving you the advantage so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you and then both of us can share the money, 60% to me and 40% to you. I know there might be other persons out there with the same surname as my last client, but after a little check my instinct tells me to contact you. Can I trust you on this? I shall assemble all the necessary documents that will be used to back up your claim.
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law. I will not fail to bring to your notice that this proposal is hitch-free and that you should not entertain any fears as the required arrangements have been made for the completion of this transfer.
Like I said, I require only a solemn confidentiality on this. Please get in touch with me by my alternative email: agentkinch@gmail.com for better confidentiality and send to me your telephone and fax numbers to enable us discuss further on this transaction. My contact number is +44-702-407-6774. If this proposal is acceptable by you, do not take undue advantage of the trust I have bestowed in you, Thanks for your understanding.
Regards.
Christopher Kinch QC
Essex Chambers
23 Essex Street
London WC2R 3AA
(Cell +44-702-407-6774. Weekdays Mondays-Fridays Only)
Fax: +44-700-594-2691
Email : agentkinch@gmail.com
N.B: When calling you dial your country calling code which I think is 011+my number (+44-702-407-6774). That is (011-44-702-407-6774.). You can also confirm the code from your service provider.
I recevied the same email from Steven Walker subject Inheritance 9.8 million pounds. I knew this was a scam.
I recevied the same email from Steven Walker subject Inheritance 9.8 million pounds. In trying to check out this guy I came across this site, but also found out that there is a real Steven Walker and decided to forward the entire e-mail to him.
Everyone beware: I have over the past five years now received 1296 letters. I should be almost a rich as Bill Gates, or at least the “Donald” Trump that is, but still like the “Duck” unfortunately. They can be tracked and you can do something about it that is effective. I am a computer engineer, and I have all but stopped this from happening to me.
Randy Carpenter
I got an email from a Richard Feguson. same scam. except i dont take crap ill string him along for a very long ride. i love messing with stupid scammers.
Google for “419 Baiter” and “419 Eater” and “Scam Baiter” for a whole bunch of people who lead the scammers on, often for weeks and months at a time, wasting their time and winding them up.