419 scam: Armed Forces <armedforcesbenin2@yahoo.com.ph> FROM CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN.

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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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. )
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- "million dollars" (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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
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.
- +22999786005 (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.
- armedforcesbeninrep@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Armed Forces <armedforcesbenin2@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: armedforcesbeninrep@yahoo.fr
Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:59:52 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: FROM CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN.

FROM CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN.

We want to inform you that it is only $95.00 is what is delaying your payment,that is the lawyer transport.

Note that its the final payment to get your funds to you and the first $7000.00 will be paid to you immediately the Western Union office open tomorrow morning, so do not fail to send the $95.00 today as its only payment.

Note that the meeting that I had with the President this morning and it is confirmed that your total fund is $6.5 Million. Your payment has been split into two parts. It is approved that $1.5 Million Dollars would be sent to you through Western Union everyday and the daily payment is $7,000.00, therefore reconfirm your information which would be used to send the $1.5 Million.

However, $5 Million would be wired by Bank Transfer to you. Therefore, you have to reconfirm your Banking information where your funds would be transferred into for the transfer of your funds to take place immediately.

Kindly reconfirm your personal information:

i) Your Contact/Residential address:----------
ii) Direct Mobile Phone Numbers:-----------
iii) Office Telephone Numbers:----------------
iv) House Telephone numbers: ----------------
v) Occupation:-------------------------

You are advised to reconfirm your Banking details below:

Bank Name:---------------
Bank Address: ---------------
Account Number:---------------
Account Name: ------------------
Routing Number: --------------------- Swift Number:-------------------- Sort Code:----------------------
Bank Telephone Numbers: -------------

I hereby advise you to go ahead and use this information below to send the $95.00 via Western Union and supply the MTCN to enable us to commence into the necessary action concerning the remittance of your $1.5 Million to you.

I wait to receive the payment details from you today to finalize everything today and your first payment will be release to you by first thing tomorrow morning.

Note the payment information to send the $95.00 , BELOW IS THE INFORMATION TO SEND THE MONEY.

Receivers name::::::::::::::: CHIKELUO IGBANU,
Country:::::::::: Republic of Benin .
City::::::::::::::::::: Cotonou .
Test Question::::::: WHAT YEAR.
Test Answer:::::::::2011.
Amount $95.00..................
MTCN??????????
Sender Name....................

THANKS AND GOD BLESS
General Eze Ifeanyi Chukwu
E-mail: armedforcesbeninrep@yahoo.fr
phone: +229 99-78-60-05

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam