419 scam: "Mr. Steve Edward" <zsolomononline2000@yahoo.co.in> ASAP.

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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:
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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.
- +22997464521 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- totalreachrealbox@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Steve Edward" <zsolomononline2000@yahoo.co.in>
Reply-To: totalreachrealbox@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 06:03:37 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: ASAP.

With Due Respect

My Dear,

Please, I want you to read this letter very carefully and i must apologize for barging this message into your mail box without any formal introduction due to the urgency and confidential of this issue and i know that this message will come to you as a surprise, Please this is not a joke and i will not like you to joke with it.

I am Mr. Steve Edward, a branch Manager with First Commercial Bank (FCB) Cotonou, Benin Republic.

I Hoped that you will not expose or betray this trust and confident that i am about to establish with you for the mutual benefit of me and you.

I need your urgent assistance in transferring the sum of ($49) millions USD into your account within 7working banking days. This money has been dormant for years in our Bank without claim due to the owner of this fund died along with his entire family and supposed next of kin in an air crash since July 31st 2000.

Pls go through the website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

I want our bank to release these funds to you as the nearest person to our deceased customer, while i come over to your country to share this fund with you as soon as you confirm this fund into your account and ask me to come over.

I don't want the money to go into our Bank treasure as an abandoned fund. So this is the reason why i contacted you so that our bank will release this money to you as the next of kin to the deceased customer. Please I would like you to keep this proposal as a top secret and delete it if you are not interesting.

Upon the receipt of your reply and indication of your capability, i will give you full details on how the business will be executed and also note that you will stand to make 45% of the above mentioned sum if you agree to handle this business with me, while 50% will be for me and 5% for any expenses that may arise on the process, Because i don't want anyone here in our bank to know my involvement until you confirm this fund into your account and ask me to come over for the sharing as i indicated.

Am looking forward hearing from you immediately and you can urgently reach me with my private email address below email: totalreachrealbox@gmail.com for more details.

Thanks with my best regards,

Mr. Steve Edward.
Tel: +229 97464521

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam