419 scam: Franck Nicolas <franck.nicolas001@gmail.com> From Minister Of Finance

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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. )
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "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.
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.
- careteamservices@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: Franck Nicolas <franck.nicolas001@gmail.com>
Reply-To: franck.nicolas09@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2011 20:21:03 +0100 (BST)
Subject: From Minister Of Finance

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN

MINISTRY OF
FINANCE

ECONOMIC AND
DEBT REFORM DEPARTMENT.

WORLD BANK READ,
COTONOU
,BENIN REPUBLIC
(Civil
Procedure)

                                                                                                     (F.H.C.B)


( ARANGEMET)

Why are you
decided to make yourself a looser of this fund by refusing to pay the 55 dollars
for the renewal of your transfer file,Be rest assure that as soon you send the
$55.00usd they must start transfering of your fund through Western Union within
2hrs after canfirmation of the fee without any further delay and this is the
only fee you have to pay in this transaction as it was written down already by
the Federal government of this country that mapped out the compensaction for you
ok.

be inform that the
amount you will be receiving each day is $5,000.00usd once you send the
$55.00usd for the renewal of your transfer
file,

However,You are
therefore advice to Contact the General Manager of Western union Department,
Benin Republic ( Mr.Bab Coker ) through below email address:

Kindly notify us
or your nearest F.B.I office after 2hours you did not received your first
payment of $5,000.00 from
Mr.Bab Coker
ok.

Send it to bellow
information via western union or money gram:

Receiver
name::::::::::::::::::::Chima Stanley
Address:::::::::::::::::::::::Cotonou-Benin
Republic.
Text question::::::::::::::::::: In
God.
Answer::::::::::::::::::::: We
trust.
MTCN::::::::::::::::
Sender's
Name::::::::::::

Sender's
Adddress::::

I will be waiting
on your urgent feedback with the MTCN of the $55.00
thanks.

and send him your Fund Release Pin R1209I
so that he will transfer your fund to you immediately they receive the $55 from
you.

Thanks and accept our
congratulations.



Reply to careteamservices@gmail.com

Mr. Smith
Ezenwa

From Minister Of Finance,

Federal Republic of
Benin.

FROM THE CHIEF JUDGE FEDERAL
HIGH COURT OF BENIN

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam