419 scam: "Lt General Sam Edwards"<admin.office@live.co.uk> Urgent Matters!

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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "diplomatic immunity"
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "here in united kingdom" (this email uses bad English)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447045701505 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- admin_office@mail2broker.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Lt General Sam Edwards" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <admin_office@mail2broker.com>
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 12:25:52 -0400
Subject: Urgent Matters!

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Lt General Sam Edwards National Special Adviser,I am delighted to inform you that the contract panel, which just concluded it seating in our department just released your name amongst contractors to benefit from the Diplomatic Immunity Payment. This Panel was primarily delegated to investigate manipulated contract claims,contracts and over-invoiced payment as the effect has eaten deep into the economy of our dear country here in UNITED KINGDOM UK..

However, we wish to bring to your notice that your contract profile is still reflecting in our central computer as as it was instructed by the UNITED NATION unpaid contractor while auditing was going on. Your contract file was forwarded to my office by the auditors as unclaimed fund, we wish to use this medium to inform you that for the time being Federal Government have stopped further payment through bank to bank transfer due to contractors numerous petitions to United Nations against banks on wrong payment and diversion of contract funds to different account.

In this regards we are going to send your contract part payment of $10.100,000.00 Million USD.To you via our accredited shipping company via diplomatic means and I have secured every needed documents to cover the money. Note: The money is coming on 2 security proof boxes. The boxes are sealed with synthetic nylon seal and padded with machine.

Please you don't have to worry for anything, as the transaction is 100% risk free. The boxes are coming with a Diplomatic agent who will accompany the boxes to your house address. All you need to do now is to send to me your full house address and your identity such as, international Passport or drivers license and your mobile phone and telephone number, The Diplomatic Attach? will travel with it. He will call you immediately he arrives your country's airport. I hope you understand me.

Note: The diplomat does not know the original contents of the boxes. What we declared to them as the contents is Sensitive Photographic Film Materials for security reasons.I did not declare money to them please. If they call you and ask you the contents please tell them the same thing. email (admin_office@mail2broker.com) I will let you know how far I have gone with the arrangement. I will secure the Diplomatic immunity clearance certificate, which will make it pass every custom checkpoint all over the world without hitch. Confirm the receipt of this message and send the requirements to me immediately you receive this message. Please I need urgent reply because the boxes are schedule to live as soon as we hear from you. Call me immediately.

1)YOUR FULL NAME
2)PHONE AND FAX NUMBER
3)ADDRESS WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE YOUR FUND
4)YOUR AGE AND CURRENT OCCUPATION
5)A COPY OF YOUR IDENTITY

Congratulations.

Best Regards,
Lt General Sam Edwards.
National Security Adviser.
+44-704-570-1505.

Note: Make sure you reply and forward the needed information to this email address:admin_office@mail2broker.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam