419 scam: LAWRENCE JAMES <frankigwe96@yahoo.com.ph> ATM MASTER CARD number 527 478364 4673648 748:

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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:
- "western union" (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. )
- "moneygram" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "million 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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- paymentofficebenin@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: LAWRENCE JAMES <frankigwe96@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: paymentofficebenin@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 11 Nov 2011 19:38:04 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: ATM MASTER CARD number 527 478364 4673648 748:

Dear Beneficiary,

This is to let you know that we have received an instruction from the United Nation by orders of the Ministry of Finance, Federal Republic of Benin to release your Approved payment of US$1.5 Million Dollars via ATM MASTER CARD which you will use to withdraw your US$1.5 Million Dollars from any ATM Machine in any part of the world.

I must thank you and assure you that ATM MASTER CARD number 527 478364 4673648 748: has been approved and upgraded in your favor this morning. The amount upgraded in the ATM CARD is US$1.5 Million Dollars and your secret pin number is 1964, Right now, Invitation have been extended to you to visit our UBA BANK here in Benin Republic for collection of your ATM MASTER CARD and PIN NUMBER so that you can activate it by yourself and start withdrawing your fund from any ATM CARD Machine in your country but the amount you can withdraw per day is $10.000 USD as we have programmed,

Alternatively, if you can not be able to visit our UBA BANK branch here in Benin for the collection of your ATM MASTER CARD and PIN NUMBER, you must therefore apply for the ATM MASTER CARD and PIN NUMBER to be sent to you via our diplomatic courier service at your own expenses by offsetting the following payments such as;

1) Shipping fee of your ATM MASTER CARD to your address amounting to US$45.00.

2) Insurance Coverage fee of the ATM MASTER CARD amounting to USU S$39.00.

Both payments totally sum of US$84.00 must be paid to enable us ship the ATM MASTER CARD to your address to enable you start withdrawing your US$1.5 Million Dollars from any ATM machine in any part of the world. This ATM MASTER CARD must be insured so that it can get to you without any problem or diversion,

So, if you cannot come down here in Republic of Benin for the collection of your ATM MASTER CARD, you are therefore to send the shipping and insurance coverage fee of US$84.00 via Western Union Money transfer or MoneyGram to the following name:

Receiver's Name_______Nnamah Isaac Osita

Country______________Benin Republic

City_________________Cotonou

Text Question_________When

Text Answer__________Now

Amount_____________US$84.00

MTCN

SENDER

As soon as the fee is received, we shall immediately dispatch the ATM MASTER CARD to you and it will take only 2 days to arrive to your address to enable you start withdrawing your funds from any ATM machine in any country you want.

Thanks for your understanding while waiting for your quick reply.

Yours in service.

Mr Lawrence James

Director ATM Department

E-mail: paymentofficebenin@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam