419 scam: "Mr.Frank Mike" <lucascarcia@alice.it> Attention Dear E-mail Beneficiary,

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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "diplomatic immunity"
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "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.
- dhlcom@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Frank Mike" <lucascarcia@alice.it>
Reply-To: dhlcom@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 9 Dec 2017 18:43:19 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Attention Dear E-mail Beneficiary,

Attention Dear E-mail Beneficiary,

I'm diplomatic agent Mr.Frank Mike, i write to inform

you about my successful arrive at(Intercontinental

Airport.New York,)After our meeting today concerning

your unclaimed package in this DHL Couries company, I

was instructed to contact you by the board of

directors and the committee on foreign matters.Before

I proceed, I decided to stop any communication with

you because you have always doubted all my words

which I gave to you and decide to follow the

instructions of hoodlums and imposter's who are only

interested in extorting money out from you and use

you as their prey. I want to ask you a question and

do not be offended "since you stop communicating with

me and prefer to follow the impostors rather than me,

have you finally received your fund? Is there any

hope that you will receive the fund in near future if

you continue to follow their instructions?

The board and senate committee has been asking me why

I returned your fund to the Government reserve

account without your knowledge and I have given them

the reason, to allow you follow the hoodlums and know

what the outcome will be and to see if you will

follow my instructions this time.

Anyway, I decided to contact you and to alert you on

the status of your fund, during our meeting today on

the round-table with the Presidency and Minister for

Finance, I have been advised to contact and to make

sure that your fund is deliver to you before the

closure of the payment system in no distance time.

The ball is now in your court.But now i misplace your

address during custom searching. reconfirm your

delivery address with your phone number:

And also noted that you will pay for diplomatic

immunity clearance
certificate before i can proceed to your home

Address. Regard, Agent Frank Mark email me
to (dhlcom@yahoo.com) okay
You are advised to copy the details below and locate

Western Union or Money Gram only to send the fee and

expect within 3hours. Once again send the money

through Western Union or Money Gram as listed below.

Receiver's Name:.....BEN JAMES
Country:................Benin Republic
City:......................Cotonou
Amount:.................US$159

After sent the money kindly fill the below details

for pick up"

Mtcn#.......
Sender's name.......
Sender's address......
.
your Full information to avoid wrong transfer such

as,

Name_______________
Address: ______________
Country: ___________
Phone Number: ___________
Email_____________

You will give me direction on how i will be receive

on your home address with the funds $10.5 Million USA

Dollars, My agreement with custom is when you send

the fee today you will get the certificate today and

i will proceed.

The board of Directors and senate committee gives you

only 3 working days to receive your fund or no more

so follow the instruction by send the fee immediately

and email me back.

Thanks for your anticipation and understanding.
Best Regards.
Mr.Frank Mike

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam