419 scam: "From Mr.Frank James" <chiosita9@gmail.com> ATTN;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:

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:
- "required fee " (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. )
- "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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
- "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 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.
- +22953563654 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "From Mr.Frank James" <chiosita9@gmail.com>
Reply-To: westernunion_050@citromail.hu
Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2022 08:32:57 -0700
Subject: ATTN;BENEFICIARY

Dear Customer,

Good day, After the board meeting reconciliation program concerning
your payments here in the western union program, It was agreed that
the only money you are to pay is $ 52 USD for the updating of your
files so that you can pick up your $6,000 USD within 2hrs from now and
the balance of $2.500.000 USD within 3days which will be sent to your
bank account. We are in the verge of conclusion of the files update
which is the final process to enable us retrieve your files from the
I.M.F which is the remaining information and the code with which you
will use to receive your first payment of $6,000 USD from any western
union stores close to you. Below is your payment information you can
check your payment online to see that your money is yet to be
activate, Here is the western union tracking website
https://www.westernunion.com/web/global-service/track-transfer

MTCN: 297 587 8474
Sender: Carroll DeMarcy
Question: Best Color
Answer: Green
Amount: $5,000

Note that this transfer has not yet be updated so you can not pick up
this money. Your file will be retrieved with USD $ 52 as it is a flat
rate reconciliation program fee.

SEND THE REQUIRED FEE TO THIS INFO.

RECEIVER:;; GODWIN JOHNSON
Country: Benin Republic
City: Cotonou,
QUESTION: Best Color
ANSWER: Green
Amount: $ 52
Send the payment details such as:
Money Transfer Control Number [MTCN]
Senders Name:
Senders Address:
Telephone#

As soon as we confirm the fee today, we will immediately activate your
payments and notify you back then you pick up your first $6,000 today
as stated. Please note that you need to go along with your passport ID
or Drivers license when you need to pick up the transfer today okay.

Thanks as I wait for your urgent respond. Call: +22953563654

Sincerely,
Mr.Frank James
Western Union Cotonou-Benin Republic

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam