419 scam: "Edward Rogers.Esq." <offcefile25@yahoo.com.ph> Dear Good Friend,

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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:
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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.
- edward_rogers30@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Edward Rogers.Esq." <offcefile25@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: edward_rogers30@aol.com
Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2015 23:01:17 -0000
Subject: Dear Good Friend,

Dear Good Friend,

My name is Barr. Edward Rogers, I am a citizen of Republic of Benin in
West African region.I am writing for the following opportunity in my
office that will be of immense benefit to both of us. I am the personal
attorney to late Mr.Daniel Dawson from Belgium who was a senior staff of
RCC construction company, he died on November 17 2009 in auto crash.

My client had an account with BANK here in Cotonou Benin valued at $18.7M
USD (Eighteen million seven hundred thousand united states dollars)I made
several inquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives in
Belgium since after his death, All my efforts to locate any of his
relatives proved unsuccessful.

Recently, the bank has issued me a notice to provide his next of kin who
will claim his funds or have his account confiscated and divert the funds
to federal Reserve bank,Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the
relatives for years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of
kin to the deceased,so that the bank can release the money to you as the
next of kin to the deceased customer, This money has been dormant for
years in the Bank without claim,and I don't want the money to go into the
Federal Reserve Bank of Benin(FRBB) as unclaimed funds.

Please
I would like you to keep this transfer as a top secret between me and you
alone , I have all the necessary information and legal documents needed to
back you up for the claim.All I require from you is your honest
co-operation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this
will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from
any breach of the law.

Thanks as I am looking forward to read your positive response through my
private email address, (edward_rogers30@aol.com)

Yours Faithfully,

Edward Rogers.Esq.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam