419 scam: "DR.FRANK ASHLEY" <notice76@hotmail.com> ATTENTION M.T.C.N OWNER,

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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 transfer control number" (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)
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.
- ecobankplcbenin@superposta.com (Superposta; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "DR.FRANK ASHLEY" <notice76@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: ecobankplcbenin@superposta.com
Date: Thu, 24 May 2012 07:27:48 +0100 (BST)
Subject: ATTENTION M.T.C.N OWNER,

ATTENTION M.T.C.N OWNER,

I AM DR.FRANK ASHLEY FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER ECO BANK WESTERN UNION BENIN REPUBLIC, FIRST I WISH TO THANK GOD WHO HAS GRANTED ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REMEMBER YOU TODAY, HOW ARE YOU TOGETHER WITH YOUR FAMILY?.

MY MAIN MOTIVE OF WRITING YOU TODAY IS NOTHING BUT TO LETTING YOU THAT YOUR M.T.C.N WILL GET EXPIRE ON THE MAY 25TH 2012 LIKE I WAS TOLD EARLIE LAST WEEK THAT IT WILL GET EXPIRE THIS WEEK FRIDAY BEING 25TH OF MAY, NOW AM HERE TO INFORM YOU AGAIN THAT THE EXPIRING DATE HAS GETTING CLOSER TODAY IS 23RD AND IT HAS ONLY 2 DAY TO EXPIRE THAT IS FRIDAY IS LAST DATE, NOW PICK THIS RECEIVER INFORMATION AFTER READING MY MAIL RUN TO WESTERN UNION AND SEND THE MONEY WHICH YOU KNOW IT IS ONLY THING THAT HOLD YOU TO RECEIVE YOUR FIRST PAYMENT, I WANT IT TO BE DONE NOW, BELOW IS OUR RECEIVER DETAIL:

1.RECEIVER NAME:===== SAMUEL OKOLO
2.COUNTRY:=====BENIN REPUBLIC .
3.CITY :=====COTONOU .
4.TEST QUESTION:=====GOD
5.TEST ANSWER:=====BLESS.
6.AMOUNT:=====
MONEY TRANSFER CONTROL NUMBER (M.T.C.N======)
SENDER'S NAME=====

DO NOT WASTE TIME OR GIVE ANY UNNECESSARY EXCUSE DELAY MAY COST ANOTHER PROBLEM, WITH MY GUARANTEE, AS SOON AS I HEAR FROM YOU WITH THE PAYMENT TODAY YOU SHALL PICK UP YOUR AVAILABLE INFORMATION WITHIN 3HOURS I PROMISE AND I WILL NEVER DISAPPOINT YOU.

YOURS SINCERELY
DR.FRANK ASHLEY
FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER
ecobankplcbenin@superposta.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam