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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:

Fraud email example:

From: Steven Edward <stvedd10@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <steve_co@mail2triallawyer.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2007 13:10:29 -0400
Subject: Your Family Member (Respond asap)



From Steven P. Edward
London, United Kingdom
Dear Partner,

RE: INHERITANCE OF PROPERTIES AND STOCKS

It is my pleasure to inform you that our search of the family tree/pedigree through http://www.familysearch.org/ has revealed that you are a family member of my deceased client who died on the 4th of August 2002. Do not misunderstand me with this contact as a hoax or scam. I am only doing this as a mark of my integrity and honor to my client as he reposed such enormous confidence in me as his Attorney regarding his investment. Before I give you the detail of this claim, I will ensure that you understand the concept of this communication in order that you may not mistake it for one of those unscrupulous emails that is prevalent on the Internet. Please note the following;
1.You shall be verified as his family member before going ahead with this claim. Verification shall be strictly on your last name and continent/country of origin, etc
2. You shall not make any advance payment to me or any other person for that matter by any means of money transfer. Except you are indisposed to meet with the Firm’s officials in person.
3. You shall personally meet with the officials of the Security Firm for the claim in any of their designated offices in Europe or UK.
4. The Stock shall be released in cash to you directly by the Firm’s officials to avoid any bank charges, transfer charge or whatever expenses as the case may be.
5. You shall agree to pay me 15% of the entire claim for my role as the family Attorney.
6. If the verification is not in your favor, this communication shall be assumed null and void.

NOTE: You were contacted because the claim of this fund has an open mandate since the only heiress was my client’s late wife who apparently is deceased and no one exist as his next of kin. I do not have any doubt in your ability to handle an international business of considerable TRUST, which may form the bedrock of an extensive business partnership in the future. Also note that all the documents regarding the deposit of this stock and the existence of the properties are with me for a proper administration of this claim. It is my duty to locate at least a family member of my client as the Security Firm has given a deadline for the confiscation of this Stock.

Therefore, I request that you contact me stating your profile in order that I may ascertain your relationship with my deceased client for further details regarding this claim.

Thank you,
Steven P. Edward
213A Clapham Road London United Kingdom
Direct Line: +44 702 407 6939
Direct Fax: +44 207 681 1190
Mobile No.: +44 792 224 2864

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