419 scam: "Franklin .C. Jones"<fcjones008@diplomat.com> Official Information>>

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Franklin .C. Jones" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <franklin.cjones@onet.eu>
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2017 20:57:28 -0800
Subject: Official Information>>

From The Desk Of Franklin .C. Jones
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
500 Terminal E. East Boston, MA 02128
Tel: +16172597945

Attention Sir / Ma,

I a m Franklin C. Jones from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. We are writing to inform you that We have just intercepted a parcel from Africa.

The parcel was scanned and we discovered a Certified Bank Check in it, which bears your name as the rightful owner. The Bank Check contained Six Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars. Further Investigations carried out on the parcel shows that the parcel is to be delivered to your residence

We cross-checked all legal documentation in the parcel, and was about to release your Bank Check for delivery, when we found out that your Bank Check is lacking one very important documentation which is known as Funds Legality Clearance Certificate and as a result, your Bank Check has been placed on hold by this office until the required document is obtained, before your fund is released to you.

You are required to obtain the certificate from this office, to enable us release your money to you without any further delays. Failure to comply and abide with these regulations, your bank check will be confiscated accordingly.

Contact us on how to obtain the requested funds legality clearance certificate as soon as possible.

Regards,
Franklin .C. Jones

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam