419 scam: "Edward"<laz@mail.com> I will need your efforts

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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- lazrus90edward@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Edward" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lazrus90edward@aim.com>
Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2012 19:25:05 +0200
Subject: I will need your efforts

Dear Friend,
My name is Lazarus Edward. Working with DHL Republic of Benin; I work as the warehouse officer. There is a Deposit in our office which has stayed here for almost 8 months; this Deposit came from one Mr. In Van Nguyen, a banker, a native of Vietnam and resident in Republic Benin , to be delivered to himself in HCMC Vietnam.

I was instructed as the warehouse officer to find out the content of the consignment, the scanning shows it contains cash in (15.5 million )United States dollar currency.
I have made several contacts through our office in Vietnam to locate this Mr. In Van Nguyen via his stated address in Ho Chi Minh City , Vietnam .
It was shocking that the address given in the airway bill does not exist. Having also checked out his name in Vietnam Obituary Records, I found out that In Van Nguyen has died .
It's against the ethics of courier policy to transport cash; I have not declared to our office that the content is cash; you are the only one whom I am letting this information out.
I have to write officially to my office that I have located the next of kin of In Van Nguyen who the consignment should be forwarded to.
This deposit has been moved to our correspondent deposit institution in Spain based on my application, as the nearest place for the next of kin of our late client.
If you are interested to stand as the next of kin to make this claim, urgently contact me this email address(lazrus90edward@aim.com ) for more information.
Regard
Lazarus Edward.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam