Scam: Barrister Thomas Cole, Nigeria

Scam Money Transfers
Example - Barrister Thomas Cole, Nigeria

A simple scam; a fake "Barrister" with a fake name (Thomas Cole) claims to represent yet another dead millionaire who left no Will and has no heirs.  But lucky you, you have his same last name.  Sharing the same surname means you can scam with the "Barrister" to defraud the estate and claim the money!  Gee, so even if this story were true, you would be committing a felony.  Does that sound good to you? Notice the similarity to the Bernard Abbah and Paul Williams scam letter. In this case the surname used is "Ware", but the scammer will change that to you name!

Just another scam. Here it is for your entertainment.  We've highlighted some of the more obvious clues that it is a scam, such as the free email accounts being used by a law firm, the lousy spelling, punctuation and grammar, citing a real accident to give the story the appearance of credibility, and so on.

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-------------- Forwarded Message: --------------
From: "Thomas Cole" < thomacole39@hotmail.com >
Date: Mon, 29 Jan 2007 10:12:07 +0000

From The Desk Of:
Barrister Thomas Cole & partners.
25 Wilson Road
Olodi Apapa
Lagos- Nigeria.
Private / Highly Confidential
Contact Email/ tomcole1999chambers@yahoo.com 
Subject Matter: Invitation to act as Next-of-Kin

Dear Ware,

I presume this letter will come to you as a surprise, but as things unfold, we will know each other better.I will start by introducing myself to you. My name is Thomas Cole a solicitor atlaw.

I am writing in respect of a foreigner Mr Richard Burson Ware,who happens to be my client an oilmerchant and contractor who perished in a plane crash of 31st October 1999[WITH EGYPTIAN AIRLINE 990] with other passengers aboard.

Sinc e the demise of my client I personally have watched with keen interest to see the next of kin but all has proved abortive as no one has come to claim his funds of US$28.5m(Twenty Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollar) and all the relevant documents in the bank has no record of any next of kin. On this note, I decided to seek for whom his name shall be used as his next of kin so I have contacted you to assist in repatriating most especially, the money left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where the huge deposits were lodged.

Particularly, the Equity Development Bank Plc where the deceased had an account valued at about Usd28.5 million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the Next of kin, or have the account confiscated.

I seek your consent to present you as the Next of kin of the deceased. I know you can assist me as I need somebody who is trustwor thy and willing to assist me get the funds transfered.Whcih the account which my late client operate is valued at Usd28.5 million dollars can be paid to you, as my
clients Next of Kin, and then we can share the amount on a mutual agreed percentage.

All legal documents to back up your claim as the deceased Next of Kin will be provided. 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 and you should endeavor to keep it confidential.

Please get in touch with me at, tomcole1999chambers@yahoo.com  to enable us discuss further about this transaction.


Best regards,
Barrister Thomas Cole.
 

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