419 scam: BARRISTER FRANK MICHEL <fmichel@qq.com> DEAR BENEFICIARY,

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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:
- "atm card department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "atmdeptuba@barid.com" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- +22966669347 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: BARRISTER FRANK MICHEL <fmichel@qq.com>
Reply-To: barristerfrankmichel@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 02 Jul 2014 13:10:00 +0100
Subject: DEAR BENEFICIARY,

--
DEAR BENEFICIARY,

WE WISH TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR PAYMENT FILE WAS REFERRED BACK TO OUR
OFFICE BY THE CENTRAL BANK OF BENIN FOR VERIFICATIONS/PAYMENT. WE HAVE
COMPLETED THE INVESTIGATIONS TODAY AND OUR FULL INVESTIGATION PROVED US
THAT THERE IS NO REASON TO DELAY THE PAYMENT FROM COMING TO YOU.

IT IS OUR PLEASURE TO INFORM THAT AN URGENT INSTRUCTION HAS BEEN PASSED
THIS MORNING BY BENIN REPUBLIC PRESIDENT, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF YOUR
INHERITANCE SUM OF ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES
DOLLARS $1,500,000.00). WE HAVE ALSO CONCLUDED WITH THE UNITED BANK FOR
AFRICA LTD ( UBA ) ,BENIN REPUBLIC TO RELEASE THE FUNDS TO YOU THROUGH
ATM CARD WHICH YOU WILL BE USING TO WITHDRAW YOUR MONEY IN ANY ATM
MACHINE IN YOUR COUNTRY.

THEREFORE, YOU'RE HERE BY ADVISED TO QUICKLY GET IN TOUCH WITH THE UBA
BANK ATM CARD DIRECTOR FOR THE FURTHER DIRECTIVES/RELEASE OF YOUR TO
YOU.

DO FORWARD YOUR FULL AND ACCURATE CONTACT INFORMATION TO HIM AS STATED
BELOW.

1. YOUR FULL NAME:_____________________
2. ADDRESS: _____________________
3. COUNTRY: _____________________
4. CITY: _____________________
5. TEL: _____________________
6. YOUR OCCUPATION:___________________ __
7. ATTACH COPY OF YOUR ID/PASSPORT:_________________

BELOW IS THE INFORMATION THE UBA BANK ATM CARD DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR

CONTACT PERSON: BRENT PETER
EMAIL: atmdeptuba@barid.com
TELEPHONE: +229-66669347

PLEASE DO KEEP US INFORMED AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVED YOUR ATM MASTER CARD
AS TO ENABLE US UPDATE OUR FILE. COUNTING ON YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND
CO-OPERATION

YOUR SINCERELY
BARRISTER FRANK MICHEL

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam