419 scam: "Mrs.Ruth Harper." <test1@alumni.iitm.ac.in> PLEASE COULD YOU KINDLY EMAIL MR. Frank. FOR YOUR ATM MASTERCARD.

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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.
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.
- +22998227496 (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.
- franklarry989@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.Ruth Harper." <test1@alumni.iitm.ac.in>
Reply-To: franklarry989@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 08 Mar 2015 12:58:50 -0700
Subject: PLEASE COULD YOU KINDLY EMAIL MR. Frank. FOR YOUR ATM MASTERCARD.

--
I have waited for this communication from you since last 3 weeks as a
doctor, I do not have time for myself. According to instruction, I was
assigned to contact you for your compensation e-mail is among of the
lucky winners From the government Compensation both Canada, UK, USA,
Australia, Asia, Africa
and globe part of the world.

your Compensation Ticket No................abc1872
your Code......................008912.

Please for customer information keep the ticket number and the code very
carefully because this we question when the office in-charge we release
your price to avoid any misfortune. Compensation prices each
$3.520,Million. Rev.Frank Larry. Office in-charge.

E-mail ...: franklarry989@gmail.com
Office Approve
Phone No...+229 9822-7496

Best Regard,
State government
Federal office Approve
Hon Ruth Harper.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam