419 scam: "Mr. Nicla Handson" <bhc@gov.org> From British High Commission

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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:
- "security keeping fee" (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. )
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "bhc@gov.org" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "bhc@gov.org" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "bhc@gov.org" (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.
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.
- niclashandson@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Nicla Handson" <bhc@gov.org>
Reply-To: niclashandson@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2015 11:56:25 +1300 (GMT-13)
Subject: From British High Commission

>From British High Commission
Return-Path:bhc@gov.org
Reply-To: niclashandson@gmail.com
From:British High Commission bhc@gov.org
Subject: MAIL FROM BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION
Date: FRIDAY 20TH NOVEMBER 2012
Return-Path:bhc@gov.org
BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION
The British School of Cotonou,
Haie Vive, 08 BP 0352,
Cotonou, Benin.

Sir,
REF: BENEFICIARY.

The Government of the West African Countries (ECOWAS) under the African
Union (AU) have recompensed you following the meeting held with the
Government of the various countries' high commission with the AU chairman,
Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi for the fraudulent activities carried out by
her Citizens on you.

This is to cushion the effect of the present economic difficulties on you.
Your email address confirms that you were among
those defrauded as listed by the FBI and Scotland Yard through email scam
by fraudsters either as contract payment, Next of kin claims, lottery and
game wins etc. By citizens of either Nigeria, Benin Republic, Ghana,
Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea and from any part of the globe where they
operate from.

Be informed that a total of two Million four hundred and fifty thousand US
dollars ($2,450,000.00) was allocated to you by the heads of states of the
African Union as you were indicated as one of the fraud victims and the
method which this fund shall be sent to you is by ATM CARD.

Your current phone number/contact address should be made available to this
Commission in acknowledgment of this mail to effect the processing and
release of your fund by the nominated bank.You can as well contact the
Director in charge of the release/CEO of HSBC Bank London.

H.S.B.C
8 Canada Square Canary Wharf.
London, E14
5H.
Contact: Mr. Nicla Handson.
Email Address: niclashandson@gmail.com

Do note that all fees has been paid except the security keeping fee of
$150 which you need to pay for the shipping of your ATM CARD, any extra
money is not allowed and prohibited, so if you were asked for any more fee
apart from the $150 which is for the shipping fee then you should not
hesitate to get in touch with us for investigation of whom is responsible
for that demand.

You shall be directed on how the security keeping fee of $150 will be paid
as soon as you have contact Mr. Nicla Handson with the above information
for the shipping of your ATM CARD.

Further communication between you and fraudsters should be discontinued as
such will result to a total cancellation of the release of the stated fund
to you. You are requested to acknowledge the receipt of this mail for
proper update of the file opened for you in
this regard.

Yours faithfully.
Mr. Nicla Handson for. Mr. Bob Dewar. (Commissioner).

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam