419 scam: "MR. JAMES P. EDISON"<james@hotmail.com> Attention: Sir/Ma

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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "into your nominated bank 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)
- "to your nominated bank 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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. JAMES P. EDISON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info_office_patrick@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2009 15:13:23 +0700
Subject: Attention: Sir/Ma

OFFICE OF THE HONORABLE MINISTER OF FINANCE

YOUR OVER DUE CONTRACT/INHERITANCE FUNDS

Our Ref: BOE/BMF/BEX/021/07/009.

IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT.CONTRACT

Attention: Beneficiary,

This is to bring to your notice about the due process of your outstanding contractual/inheritance payment which was suspended by the bank of England there by stopping the telex unit to pause the transfer of your contract/inheritance fund to your nominated bank account. as a result of this development, verification conducted by the finance ministry in conjunction with the debt verification panel on your contract/inheritance case, your file has been endorsed for payment awaiting your confirmations. during the auditing and closing of all financial records of the bank of England, it was discovered from the records of outstanding foreign contractors due for payment with the government of England in the year 2007/2009 that your name and company is next on the list of those who will received their fund.

Meanwhile, a man came to my office few days ago with a letter, claiming to be your true representative. Here are his information for you to confirm to this office if this man is truly from you or not, so that the government will not be held responsible for paying into the wrong account.

NAME: DR. LONNIE G. MCCOWAN

BANK NAME: ALASKA PACIFIC BANK

BANK ADDRESS: ALASKA .

ACCOUNT NUMBER: 2126669179.

Please, do reconfirm to this office, as a matter of urgency if this man is from you. You are requested to fill and send this information for verifications purposes so that your fund will be remitted into your nominated bank account.This fund is as a result of inheritance on your behalf. Information needed from you for verification is as follow:

(1) Your full name and address:

(2) Your age and marital status:

(3) Your occupation:

(4) Your telephone/fax number:

(5) Your nationality:

As soon as we receive this, we will commence with all necessary procedures in other to remit this money into your account. The Bank Of England, Executive Board of Directors and the Senate committee for foreign over due inheritance fund have approved and accredited this reputable ministry, with the office of the minister of finance on international remittance/foreign operations, to handle and supervise the transfer of all foreign inheritance funds for this last quarter payment of the year 2009.

However, we shall proceed to issue all payments details to the said DR. LONNIE G. MCCOWAN, if we do not hear from you within the next seven working days from today. We are sorry for any inconvenience the delay in transferring of this fund must have caused you.

Best Regards.

MR. JAMES P. EDISON

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam