419 scam: Desmond Lawrence <desmondlwsd@gmail.com> Good day Sir/Madam,

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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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "death certificate" (this phrase is often used in inheritance scams such as next of kin or https://www.419scam.org/419-murdered-businessman.htm">orphan scams. )
- ",000,000" (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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- +22998525900 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- costumerscareunit02@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Desmond Lawrence <desmondlwsd@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 5 Apr 2015 11:56:56 -0700
Subject: Good day Sir/Madam,

UNION BANK REPUBLIC DU BENIN
20 BP AKPAKPA DODOMEO
TEL: +229-98525900
EMAIL: (costumerscareunit02@hotmail.com)

Good day Frank Mullervy,

I am ELDER FRANK DONALD, the Director foreign operation Department
Union Bank Benin.

This is to inform you that the attached picture bellow indicates where
I was accessing two documents to the White men Mr. Gabriel Evans and
Mr. Alan Mills who stormed my office yesterday afternoon, the other
black man verifying the two documents are my Personal Assistance Dr.
Ossy Arinze, the two white gentlemen submitted to my notice your DEATH
CERTIFICATE and CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP.

They said that you are dead and before your death, you appointed them
as the next of kin to your contract/inherited fund presently under our
custody these two white men quickly applied that your Inherited fund
should be presented to them at a spot.

The Official responsible for the presentation of your fund valued at
US$15. 5,000,000.00 quickly granted approvals to their application now
waiting for final endorsement from Board of Trustees.

When the Union Bank Debit Note was submitted to my desk for final
Approvals before forwarding it to Board for endorsement, I noticed
that there are discrepancies as there was no evidence of authorization
letter from you for the change of beneficiary/ownership. I urgently
summoned the Official responsible for the presentation of the payment
and directed him to stop the movement of the funds and at the same
time placed a stop order instruction on the funds pending when your
views and comments are received with regards to this matter.

Please study the attached photograph and call me urgently for your
comments, which will be highly appreciated if you are still alive, but
we will not hesitate to continue the payment transmission activation
with the name of gentleman on claim if no response comes from you.

Contact me on this Tel: +229 9852-5900 and e-mail me back on
(costumerscareunit02@hotmail.com) as your silence will be a clear
indication that you authorized them to effect the above changes .

THANKS
YOURS IN-SERVICE,
ELDER FRANK DONALD.
DIRECTOR FOREIGN OPERATION UNIT
BASED ON INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE
UNION BANK OF BENIN INTERNATIONAL.
EMAIL: (costumerscareunit02@hotmail.com)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam