419 scam: "Dr. Frank Edward" <bryan.debbie@hotmail.com> Re: Hi

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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "necessary legal documents" (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 us 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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- frank.edwards2019@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Frank Edward" <bryan.debbie@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <frank.edwards2019@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2014 15:58:59 -0500
Subject: Re: Hi

>From The Office Of Dr. Frank Edwards
Address: 19/18 Equity Road Lagos, Nigeria.
E-mail: frank.edwards2019@yahoo.com

Attn: Friend;

I
am Dr. Frank Edwards, The Operations Manager In charge of Foreign
Remittance Unit, Enterpress Bank Nigeria. I have a business which will
benefit both of us, The amount of money involved is ($28.5Million US
Dollars) which i want to transfer from an abandoned account to your bank
account; it is 100% risk free. After the end of the business, We shall
agree that { 45% } Forty Five Percent will be for you in respect of all
your assistance for this transaction and {50% } Fifty- Percent will be
for me being the pioneer of the business and (5%) five Percent will be
for any expenses that may occur during the transfer. I will like you to
provide immediately the below information, to enable me use it and get
you next of kin application form from my bank.

1.Full Name:......................................
2.Full Address:...................................
3.Telephone Number:........................
4.Country:...........................................
5.Occupation:.....................................
6.Age:.....................................................
7.Sex:........................................................
8. Copy Of your Valid Driver"s license............

Also
be informed that this Transaction will take us just 5-10 working days
only to accomplish beginning from when I receive the above information
and you have been made the next of kin, I will file an application to
the bank on your behalf as soon as I secure the necessary approval and
letter of probate in your favor for the movement of the funds to an
account that will be provided by you. This process is 100% risk free as I
have set out all the modalities to see that a legal and legitimate
process is applied because I will prepare all the necessary legal
documents.

Yours Sincerely,
Dr. Frank Edwards

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam