Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Nigeria

Re: Next of Kin

This sounds like a new version of an old scam: a Nigerian official needing your bank account for a large sum of money, some of which they're willing to share with you. Don't give out your bank account number or any other personal information! Instead, have them verify some of their information to you, and if it's legitimate they'll just need proof showing you're related and can send you a check, or perhaps wire the funds to an escrow account.

For more information on the Nigerian scams, take a look at:

http://www.urbanlegends.com/ulz/scam419.html

Re: Next of Kin

Please tread carefully here! There is a huge fraudulent scheme that has been around since the 1920's where similar fact patterns to what you relate are presented to innocent (gullible) people who get taken for a ride. Not coincidentally, the usual foreign nation named is Nigeria. Before you consider any efforts to recover funds from a long lost "next of kin," read the following Snopes Urban Legends page:

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/scams/nigeria.htm

Many good-hearted and well meaning people have been separated from millions of their dollars by scams that sound just like this. Investigate THOROUGHLY before pursuing such a thing -- especially if you were first contacted via email.

Rick Williams, Esq.

Reno/Sparks, NV