419 scam: "Edwin Lazu"<edwardlazu001@gmail.com> VERY URGENT

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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)
- "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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- edwinlazu02@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Edwin Lazu" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <edwinlazu02@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2016 12:25:54 +0100
Subject: VERY URGENT

Dear Friend,

I hope this email find you in good health, I unassumingly solicit for your utmost consideration.

My name is Edward Lazu, a doctor and personal adviser to the Syrian deputy defense minister,
late Assef Shawkat; who was killed on the 18th of July 2012, by bomb blast,
before his death he instructed me to look for a very reliable person who can assist to invest
this funds (USD14, 500,000.00 which he deposited with a
Financial Institution in Europe as a result of the war that is going on their country.

The reason why I contacted you for this is because as his doctor and personal assistant to the
Syrian government has ordered that I should remain in house arrest in Syria
until the investigation of who killed Assef Shawkat is concluded.

Presently I am in a house arrest in Syria because of the bomb blast that killed top officials
including my boss (late Assef Shawkat), I was only allowed to make use of the internet, no phone calls.
You will only make calls when I have given you the contact details of the Financial Institution,
please keep this transaction secret. I am waiting for your reply so that I can give you more details.
Contact me with my private email: edwinlazu02@gmail.com

Best Regards
Edward Lazu

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam