419 scam: "Dr. Frank Williams" <jamieken@sify.com> Dear Valued 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:
- "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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "intercontenitalbankp@globomail.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
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.
- +22998634376 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Frank Williams" <jamieken@sify.com>
Reply-To: intercontenitalbankp@globomail.com
Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2011 20:19:47 +0600 (BDT)
Subject: Dear Valued Beneficiary

--
Dear Valued Beneficiary

Citing the strong business tie between the overseas and the people of
Benin Republic, the International Interpol Police in collaboration with
the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are conducting an investigation
to worldwide fraud practices that are known as "Advance fee-fraud" or
"419-fraud".

This Joint Task Force is saddled with the responsibility to check, probe
and investigate cases that center on abuse of office, diversion of public
funds and property, mismanagement and stealing of public funds at the
Federal, States and International levels in Benin Republic and other
Corrupt Practices within the shores of the Africa Continent.

The Interpol Police has also received several complaints from various
affected beneficiaries from all over the world who have been swindled off
their hard earned monies and has not received their funds hitherto. We are
not unaware that you have not received your fund due to the past corrupt
Government Officials who has frustrated and subjected you to various
insensitive procedures, all in their selfish bid to swindle your fund into
their personal accounts abroad.

At this juncture, you are advised to refrain from any activities or
dealing with any anonymous Benin Republic (s), as we have been mandated to
control this payment exercise by ensuring that all funds owed to every
individual beneficiary or organizations are duly paid to them without
delay. Therefore, you are enjoined to rely on the conventional integrity
of the Interpol Police and the constitutional processes to affect the
release of your payment.

To this effect, we wish to gladly inform you that from the calculated sum
of US$4.5 Billion from the World Bank for the Benin Republic Debts
Resolution, you have been approved to receive a part-payment sum of US$5
Million only, and you will have to receive your fund in form of Automated
Teller Card commonly known as ATM Card, alongside a custom pin number
which you will use to make withdrawals of your funds from any Inters
witched ATM machines. The ATM card has a handbook or manual script to
enlighten you about how to use it.

We have agreed that you should pay only delivering fee which is $250.00
and you MUST receive your card.

You have to reconfirm your full information such as follow:
Full Name: ……………………………………
Home Address or Office: ………………………
Cell Phone and Home Phone number: ……………………

Below is the Western Union or Money Gram information you will use to send
the US$250.00:

RECEIVERS: NWABUNWANNE JAMES NGOSINE
ADDRESS: COTONOU-BENIN REPUBLIC
TEST QUESTION: WORLD POWER?
TEST ANSWER: USA

Send the MTCN number or Money Reference numbers as soon as you make the
payment available.

I am waiting to hear from you soon.

Best regards,
Dr. Frank Williams
ATM CARD Director Intercontinental Bank Africa
+229 986 343 76 (intercontenitalbankp@globomail.com)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam