419 scam: MRS MARY ANN <alifrank36@yahoo.co.uk> ATTEN: URGENT RESPOND IS HIGHLY NEEDED FOR YOUR TRANSFER.

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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:
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "fund beneficiary" (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.
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.
- +2299968272773 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- officefnd@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: MRS MARY ANN <alifrank36@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: officefnd@yahoo.fr
Date: Thu, 3 May 2012 10:29:51 +0100 (BST)
Subject: ATTEN: URGENT RESPOND IS HIGHLY NEEDED FOR YOUR TRANSFER.

Dear Benefficiary,

We wish to intimate you that your payment files have been forwarded to this honorable office for final verification before the wire transfer of your fund to your account. Based on our investigation we understood you have made several payments to different people incapable, wrong hands that can not release your fund to you. I was appointed to foresee all these that have happened to you in the past, all the express approvals have been made by my very self and nobody is asking you for any documents fees mark the word. The only clearance we will give to you is your fund release order authority and your legal payment confirmation slip which you will take to your bank for confirmation. Everything we are doing right now is genuine and we want absolute transparency to exist between us for the successfulness of the transfer of your fund to your account.

You are not required to make any payment as we are working legally and genuinely as appointed, we are not here to lie to you or deceive you, we want you to receive your fund and be happy in life with your family and invest your money properly.. We don¦ want you to loose your fund, been cancel or been diverted to start all over again. This is very urgent and important as your fund have been programmed we don¦ want any delay from any foreign fund beneficiary as we are working for your benefit and interest.
To this end, no more fees again as your fund will be wire to your nominated bank account first thing tomorrow as soon as we hear from you by today, we will send to you the wire transfer slip as soon as the transfer is completed.

Note: you are to reconfirm your banking details immediately where you want us to transfer this fund into and your private telephone numbers and the information below:

Full name:
Country:
Home address:
Mobile phone:
Sex:
Birth data:
Current occupation:
Marital status:
Copy Of Id:

As soon as we hear from you, Your fund to be transfer as approved is US$ 2.5 million with the interest.
Awaiting urgent response .their is no time to delay this golden opportunity.
Congratulations and good luck.

Thank you.
Mrs Mary Ann.
Email: ( officefnd@yahoo.fr )
Tele Phone +229-99-68-27-27-73
Director of foreign funds investigation.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam