419 scam: "Mr. Frank Bello" <frank_bello3@yahoo.fr> WE ARE GLAD TO BE OF SERVICE TO YOU.

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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:
- "western union" (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. )
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- tntcourierservice01@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Frank Bello" <frank_bello3@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: tntcourierservice01@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 2011 13:17:17 +0100 (BST)
Subject: WE ARE GLAD TO BE OF SERVICE TO YOU.

TNT COURIER SERVICE BENIN
ADDRESS: PLOT 5, GOVERNMENT RESIDENTIAL
AREA BRANCH (GRA) WAY, AYABONINSA AVENUE,
COTONOU-BENIN.
E-MAIL;(tntcourierservice01@hotmail.com)
WELCOME TO TNT COURIER DELIVERY COMPANY:

ATTENTION; BENEFICIARY

TNT EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY LTD WITH WORLDWIDE DELIVERY AT IT'S BEST. WE ARE PLEASED TO BE AT YOUR SERVICE. TNT EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY LTD WE ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU BETTER.

GOOD DAY TO YOU. THIS IS THE TNT COURIER SERVICE BENIN, MAILING YOU IN RESPECT OF YOUR ATM MASTER CARD BROUGHT TO THIS COMPANY SINCE TO BE DELIVERED TO YOU AND BEFORE THE PROTOCOL COMMENCE, WE HAD A DISPUTE WITH THE (NICON) INSURANCE OFFICE ABOUT YOUR INSURANCE CERTIFICATE WHICH THEY DEMAND $210 FOR THAT, BUT NOW ALL HAS BEEN SETTLED. WE ARE HAPPY TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR ATM CARD IS INSIDE ONE OF THE ENVELOPS WE ARE TO DISPATCH TODAY TO TNT OFFICE IN YOUR CITY.

SINCE YOU ARE HAVING IT DIFFICULT TO RAISE THE $210 NEEDED, THE FEE IS NOW REDUCED TO $95.00 FOR YOU. SO YOU CAN NOW SEND ONLY $95.00 TO RECEIVE YOUR ENVELOP. A TRACKING NUMBER WILL BE FORWARDED TO YOU UPON RECEIVING THE FEE $95.00 THE TNT OFFICE IN YOUR CITY WILL CALL YOU ONCE THE PACKAGE ARRIVES, THEN YOU WILL GIVE THEM A MORE DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO DRIVE DOWN TO YOUR HOUSE AND DELIVER THE ENVELOP TO YOU. YOU WILL NEED TO SIGN ON THE PAPERS WHICH HE WILL GIVE TO YOU ONCE THE DRIVER REACHES YOUR HOUSE AND ALSO HE WILL GIVE YOU THE NECESSARY INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO USE THE CARD. AFTER THIS, YOU WILL HAVE TO CALL US BACK FOR THE PIN# AS WE CAN NOT SEND THIS IN A MAIL TO YOU FOR SOME SECURITY REASONS. NOTE, YOU CAN ALSO CHANGE THIS PIN NUMBERS IF SO DESIRE FOR
YOUR OWN SAFETY.

YOU ARE ADVISED TO SEND A TOTAL SUM OF $95.00 VIA WESTERN UNION TO THE

NAME OF OUR RECEIVING AGENT BELOW.
RECEIVERS NAME: ====Nwabor Nnaemeka.
COUNTRY/CITY: =======BENIN REPUBLIC
TEST QUESTION: ======THANK
ANSWER: ===========GOD
AMOUNT: ===========$95.00 USD

FORWARD THE PAYMENT INFORMATION IMMEDIATELY YOU SEND THE $95.00 U.S DOLLARS TODAY.WE ARE WAITING ON THAT TO PROCEED WITH YOUR DELIVERY.
MR.FRANK BELLO.
E-MAIL;(tntcourierservice01@hotmail.com)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam