419 scam: MR FRANK SMITH <stahre5@sbcglobal.net> Dearest,plz i need your help

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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:
- "with your full names" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- mrs_rose.johnson13@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: MR FRANK SMITH <stahre5@sbcglobal.net>
Reply-To: franksmith12@live.com
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 06:44:49 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Dearest,plz i need your help

Dearest,plz i need your help

I crave your indulgence at this mail coming from somebody you have not know before. I decided to do this after praying over the situation. You should please consider the transaction on its content and not the fact that you have not known me before. I need not dwell on how I came by your contact information because there are many such possibilities these days.

I would like to introduce myself as Mrs. Rose Johnson Frank. S, of Repulic of Benin, widow to Late Mr.Peter Johnson (for Consular of the benin embassy in Madrid,Spain.I have been recently been daigonosed of Cancer of the Pelvics. I am writing from my sick bed in a CHINESE HOSPITAL here in Benin Republic.

There is this consignment (containg US$35.5Million cash, in US$100 bills) my husband deposited with a security company, here in Cotonou,Republic of Benin of which I am the next of kin. With my health condition and because my husband and I have no children, I am looking for a credible person to whom I will pass the right of next of kin. This person will apply to the company and request, from them, the procedure towards retrieving the consignment from them.

This is on the condition that you will take 35% of the fund for yourself, 15% used for expenses, while you will use the remaining 50% for the less previlege people in the society. This is in fulfilment of the last request of my husband: that a substantial part of the fund be used to carter for the less previleged.

If this condition is acceptable to you, you should contact me immediately with your full names and contact information so that I will send you contacte of my lawyer who will help you and i have handed over all the documents that the company gave to my husband when the consignment was deposited to him. then he will direct you on how to contact the company directly, and demand from them the procedure towards retrieving the consignment from their company.

I cannot predict what will be my fate by the time you will recieve the fund, but you should please ensure that the fund is used as i have described above. I look forward to your response. contact me through my private E_mail (mrs_rose.johnson13@yahoo.com)

And also attach to me in your return mail your personal details for familiarity,May the good Lord bless you.


1.Your Full Names

2.Your Age/ Sex

3.Your Marital Status

4.Your Occupation

5.Your Mobile Numbers/Fax

6.Your International Passport/Working ID/Driving License.

Best Regards
Mrs. Rose Johnson.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam