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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:19:26 +0200
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Western_Union_Payment_Information_To_You?=


FROM THE DESK OF MR BEN MIKE
FINANCIAL MINISTER OF FREDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
FOREIGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE.
TEL +229-9734 56 03 FAX+229-93-202-545.
Email: benmike1@hotmail.fr
---------------------------------------------------------
Attention My Dear Friend,
The Board of Federal Ministry of Finance Benin Republic are here to notify you of your payment inherited funds of US$1.5 MILLION after the meeting held on 28th of April 2008.
His Exelence the PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN DR YAYI BONI has Instructed this Department to send your funds through western union money transfer for easier receiving of your inherinted funds without any further delay to avoid paying money to the fraud stars that is going on through the global.
You are required to send your name and address where you want your fund to be send through western union. The maximium amount you will be receiving each day starting from tomorrow is the sum of $7000.00 also you are required to send us the sum of $125 dollar for re-newing and re-cofirming your file that was deposited in this office with your name and address bellow:

Beneficiarey name----------------------------
Address--------------------------------
Tel phone-----------------------------
Contact me with this informations below:
CONTACT PERSON: Mr Ben Mike
EMAIL: benmike1@hotmail.fr
As soon the required fee of $125 is send for the renewing and reconfirming the payment file of your funds, you will start receiving your funds as from tomorrow.
Kindly Send the $125 dollar through western union with the name and address below:
Receiver name -------------------------Mr Ubah Iwunor Francis
City----------------------------------------COTONOU
Country-----------------------------------BENIN REPUBLIC
Test Question-------------------------------IN GOD
Test Answer----------------------------------WE TRUST
Amount---------------------------------------------$125.00
We await to receive the western union payment informations today to enable us go ahead in sending the funds to you through western union as well.
Yours in service
Mr Ben Mike
Finance Minister
Federal republic of Benin





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