419 scam: Edward Smith <edith86e@yahoo.fr> MAIL

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:

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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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 next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Edward Smith <edith86e@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: edith111e@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2012 15:13:55 +0100 (BST)
Subject: MAIL

Dearly Beloved,

Warm greetings to you.

I hope this mail meet you in a very good health condition.

My name is Edward Smith

Sorry for my reaching you through this medium please bear with me because I have no option, I am really in problem.

Why I am contacting you is that I want you to come and stand as my guardian and the beneficiary of my inheritance consignment at the Security Company so as to help me to get the consignment released from the Security Company and deliver to your address in overseas.

I am the only child of late Mr. Kofi Smith, the former head of Ashanti Gold Dealers and a former Chairman of West African Local Miners Association.

Before the death of my father in a private clinic where he was admitted, he called me secret on his bed side as the only son and he handed me over documents he used to deposit 300kg 22Karat+ Alluvial Gold Nuggets in a Security Company and he advised me that I should look for a reliable foreign partner who will help me to transfer this Gold in a country of my choice and help me to sale it.

After selling the gold you will help me to invest in Hotel and real estate or in a profitable business in your country though your advice.

Be informed that this is a transparent business so I would need your presence here to enable us to know each other for a mutual relationship, on your arrival we will go to the Security Company together for you to see Gold, so that after the conclusion of the transaction I will go back with you to your country.

Please, if you can honestly assist me to move this gold to your country and help me to sale the gold and invest the money for me in a profitable business, kindly reply my mail with your contacts information as follows.

1: Your full name

2: Your Permanent Address

3: Your direct phone number.

I am waiting for your reply and all your information as above to enable me to give you the contacts of the Security Company so that you contact them directly to move further towards the conclusion of this transaction.

Sincerely

Edward Smith

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam