419 scam: Edward Michael <edward.michael@live.com> ENQUIRY OF YOUR PRODUCTS

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned 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.
- +22998670281 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- edwardmichael@rediffmail.com (Rediffmail, India; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: Edward Michael <edward.michael@live.com>
Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2011 01:39:06 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: ENQUIRY OF YOUR PRODUCTS

Dear Sir/Madam,

We got your contact and we introduce ourselves as COMMERCIAL INTERNATIONAL SERVICE in Benin Rep. West Africa,then we are interested to purchase your PRODUCTS in wholesale and we want to develop long time business partnerships with your company as to distribute your products on regular basis in West Africa countries such as Nigeria,Ghana,Togo-Lome and Benin Rep. and other West Africa countries and both companies will signed DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT 2 years for proper documentation.

Meanwhile we are thanking your company for welcoming our company to distribute your products in West Africa countries and which we are ready to sell your products under your company brand name only in West Africa countries.

Then we wish and ready to distribute your PRODUCTS items and as we are looking forward to receive through e-mail attachment file your Products catalogue,Export Product Price Lists and the Minimum Quantities Order Per Shipment and your company can send the Export Product Price Lists,Products catalogue by DHL,TNT only with attention name Mr.Smith Phillips and forward the Tracking Numbers or AWB to us which will enable our company to choose our interested items products.

Thanks For Co-operation

Mr.Edward Michael (Commercial Manager Department)
COMMERCIAL INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
1836-30 Marche Tokpa Cotonou,Republic Of Benin.
Tel: +229-98-67-02-81
E-mail:edwardmichael@rediffmail.com,edward.michael@live.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam