419 scam: "Mr.Victor Edward" <victoredward11@att.net> KINDLY CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND CLARIFICATION

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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:

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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Victor Edward" <victoredward11@att.net>
Reply-To: mr.victor_edward1010@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Tue, 27 Apr 2010 08:34:06 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: KINDLY CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND CLARIFICATION

Hello,

I am account manager with one of the leading banks in Johannesburg
South Africa. In my bank I discovered an abandoned large sum of fund
totaling (US$12.7M) belonging to one of our foreign customers from
United States of America, a businessman based in Johannesburg South
Africa, who was involved in a horrible motor accident in the year 2008
along with his wife and two sons on their way from Johannesburg to
Durban on what was supposed to be a private family weekend vacation.

I am therefore, seeking for your co-operation to front you as the
beneficiary of his estate since there is no other next of kin to claim
the funds as shown on his record with my bank. The Strategy is to use
my influence as account manager of my branch to provide you with the
relevant information's to enable you put in application for the claim
of the funds in your favour, whereby the USD12.7 Million will be
processed and transferred to your nominated bank account. So if you are
interested on this humble offer, I will appreciate you reconfirm your
information's to me such as your names in full, your cell phone numbers
so that I can call you for more details regarding the transaction as
time is of high essence.

Upon receipt of this information's from you, I shall advice you further on a possible way forward regarding the transaction.

I await your urgent response,

Thanks alot,

Mr. Victor Edward.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam