419 scam: Honorable Frank Edward <honfrankedward@fgn.com> YOUR URGENT REPLY IS NEEDED

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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:
- "million 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)
- ",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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "foreign exchange" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
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.
- 2347040348866
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.
- honfrankedward002@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Honorable Frank Edward <honfrankedward@fgn.com>
Reply-To: honfrankedward002@gmail.com
Date: 1 Jun 2009 22:50:05 -0000
Subject: YOUR URGENT REPLY IS NEEDED

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA

FOREIGN DEBT RECONCILIATION PANEL

Contract Payment, Costing, Investigation & Approval

Tel: 234-704-0348-866

Email: honfrankedward002@gmail.com

Honorable Frank Edward

From:

Attention, Sir,

I have gone through your payment file as directed by the Presidency/Holding Bank, and seen that it is 100% impossible for your money to be released due to some irregularities detected in your file. During our investigation, we found out that you have spent so much in trying to realize your payment, which did not even reflect in your file, but I have an offer, which will at least help you recover your financial stand loses. This offer is an amount from Federal Government left over. It is a total sum of US$55,000,000.00 (Fifty-five Million United States Dollars), which will be shared between you and I in the ratio of 50% - 50%. This amount is not from your payment or has any thing related to your payment rather it is a left over from the amount used in paying local contractors and it is directly under my custody. I am offering you this because I have seen that your payment file has been cancelled due to the anomalies associated with it and revocation of the Central Bank of Nigeria's foreign exchange dealership license due to the corrupt ineptudeness of its officials.

The only things needed for this $55 million to be transferred to your account under 48 hours are as follow: - 1. A bank account co-ordinate where the money will be transferred into. 2. Your identification (Int'l passport or Driving License). For your information, this is not a contract payment. Therefore there will be no bureaucracy or misfortune. Please note that if you are willing to make this deal with me, you should contact me immediately on the above telephone and email furnishing me with your account co-ordinates.

Also be informed that this transaction will take us just 48 hours to accomplish. If you wish for me to furnish the account co-ordinates where the money is presently lodged for verification, I will do so to clear any doubts or fears from your past experience.

Yours truly,

Honorable Frank Edward,

Foreign Debt Reconciliation Panel

Tel: 234-704-0348-866

Email: honfrankedward002@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam