419 scam: "Ed Desouza" <confidential.file11@Safe-mail.net> contacting you

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "transfer into your account" (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)
- "hundred thousand u.s 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)
- "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)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
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.
- confidential.file11@safe-mail.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Ed Desouza" <confidential.file11@Safe-mail.net>
Reply-To: info@fedresusa.com
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2014 18:32:01 +0200
Subject: contacting you

Barr: Desouza ED
Suite 200/200A, Central Chambers,
93 Hope Street Glasgow, G26LD

My Name is Barr Desouza ED. I am the Family Lawyer to the Late Mr. Carl
Lewis a national of your country, Mr. Carl has been my client for 10 years
until a tragic incident occurred that claimed the life of the entire
Family of 4. I write to inquire if you are in anyway related to my late
client (Mr. Carl Lewis). Mr. Carl has been banking with the HSBC bank
until his sudden death in an auto-mobile accident two years ago along with
his entire family, his wife and two kids. His account is totalling 8
Million Eight Hundred Thousand U.S Dollars (US$8,800,000.00) with accrued
interest.

Since this ugly incident happened, nobody has come forward to claim this
money, a situation which has warranted the Manager of the bank to write me
with a mandate as the family attorney to bring any of the deceased family
members or relative to come forward to claim this deposit less it be
classified unclaimed funds and will be sent to the treasury.

Based on the above circumstance Iâ€™m contacting you following a
genealogical search I carried out on (Family Names) database; the search
came up with your name and address as a likely relative or family member
of the Deceased. Therefore I urge you not to ignore this call /
opportunity even if you are not in anyway related to the deceased letâ€™s
work together to get this funds transferred to you as a Next Of Kin To the
deceased. I will handle all the legal aspect of the process.

Note: It is obvious we do not know each other before now; I am the person
in the Picture above I believe and hope I can trust you. Please also have
it in mind that this is a risk free transaction, because all process will
be legal. This transaction would be concluded within (14) banking days
from the day I receive your reply in acceptance to work with me to
actualize this goal. On a successful completion of the transfer into your
account, you will take 40% while I take 60%. Once you confirm the funds
into your account, I shall visit you to receive my share and also discuss
possible investment opportunity available in your country. Contact me as
soon as possible by email or fax detailing your contact phone number, so
that we could discuss more in-depth details regarding the entire
transaction.

Regards,
Desouza ED,
Tel/Fax : + 0724-328-7396
Email: confidential.file11@Safe-mail.net

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam