419 scam: "Godson Edom"<godsonedom55@yahoo.ie> Can you handle this project?

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- +2280921909 (Togo, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Godson Edom" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <godsonc-edom@live.fr>
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:47:42 -0000
Subject: Can you handle this project?

MR. GODSON EDOM
AUDITING DEPARTMENT
NATIONAL BANK FOR INDUSTRIES
LOME-TOGO
TEL: +228-0921909

Dear friend,

I crave your indulgence on this email as this however is not mandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to honour it against your will. I work with NBI bank Togo. Here in our bank existed a dormant account for the past 8 years which belongs to Mr. Andreas Schranner who died in the Monday, 31 July, 2000 AF4590 in the said crash with his wife Maria, their daughter Andrea Eich, her husband Christian, and their children Katharina, and Maximilian. This is the story in a nutshell.
Please you can enter the site below for story confirmation

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

I decided to carry out a thorough investigation on why there has been no Claimant since the death of Mr Schranner and family and discovered that he has no known relative. And in my country, the law states that after 10years of account been dormant, it will be confiscated by the holding bank where part of the fund will be paid into the state treasury. This is the eight year and if nothing is done on the account in the next one year, this fund will be confiscated.

However, I want you as a partner who will stand as the next of kin to the deceased so that with my help, the said fund will be transferred into your nominated account overseas for our sharing. The amount at the moment and plus all the accumulated interest amounts to US$11.5 million (eleven million, five hundred thousand dollars).

Now my questions are:- 1. Can you handle this project? 2. Can you be trusted? 3. What will be your commission if you can sponsor this transfer? Consider this and get back at me as soon as possible.

Finally, it is our humble prayer that the information as contained herein is accorded the necessary attention, urgency as well as the secrecy it deserves. I expect your urgent response if you can handle this project and if you cannot, please ignore and delete accordingly.

With all sincerity,
Mr. Godson Edom.
+2280921909.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam