419 scam: "Mr. Frank Andrews"<postmaster@myfranconnect.com> Dear Friend,

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
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.
- 447746808117
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.
- frankandrews117@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Frank Andrews" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <frankandrews117@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 10 May 2016 19:53:02 -0700
Subject: Dear Friend,

Dear Friend,

My name is Mr. Frank Andrews, Special Counsel, Consultant and Solicitor at Andrews & Kurth LLP Law Firm United Kingdom. Please, your urgent attention to this matter would be appreciated. A deceased client by name Mr. Michael, who lived at 17 Kensington Palace Gardens, London, W8 400, died with his wife and only son in a car accident in 2007. He left his properties behind, including his house in Yorkshire. He was into Mining, Oil and Gas, He was a successful business man before he died. I am searching for his relatives. Are you related to Mr. Michael? I decided to contact you because he bears the same last name with you and he is also from the same country with you. I await your urgent reply my privet email:frankandrews117@gmail.com

Respectfully.

Mr. Frank Andrews
(Special Counsel)
Andrews Kurth
LLP Level 16, City
Tower 40 Basinghall
Street London EC2V5DE,
England
Phone: 447746808117
Fax: 447746808117

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam