419 scam: "Barr. Mike Benson," <officefile744@yahoo.cn> PAYMENT $2.5M BY MONEYGRAM OFFICE.

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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:
- "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. )
- "moneygram" (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. )
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a 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.
- +22968391035 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barr. Mike Benson," <officefile744@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: moneygramoffi@live.com
Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2012 01:13:24 +0800 (CST)
Subject: PAYMENT $2.5M BY MONEYGRAM OFFICE.







Greeting Dear Client,

I am Barr. Mike Benson,
the Chair person in charge of Treasury Department, International wire transfers
of Benin Republic Federal Ministry of Finance. You are to reply through this my
official email address moneygramoffi@live.com

because this is to inform you that your fund was brought to my desk as
the director & management of the WESTERN UNION & MONEY GRAM transfer
have declared to divert your fund to the government treasury account just
because you can not pay the wire transfer fee, In reasoning wisely to this
complain I told them to wait until I hear from you so that I will know the
reason why you decide to reject such amount of money USD$2.5 Million which is
your rightful & legal overdue inheritance payment just because of transfer
fee.

The reason why I sent this email to you is because its your sweat
and for this reason you still have this last chance to claim your fund if you
can send USD$49.00 today because I have already arranged your wires ready for
its daily wires to you but failing to do this, I will allow them to have power
over your fund and am very sorry if you failed as this is the last
chance.

Therefore, send the USD$49.00 immediately you receive this email
today and email your full name and address to me if you want your USD$2.5
Million to be send to you by western union OR Money gram transfer but the
maximum amount officially allow for it is USD$10,000.00 per day until you
receive your complete USD$2.5 Million from here. The second option is for you to
send me the full detail of your bank account if you want your fund to be fully
transfer by direct bank to bank wire transfer to your account at once.

After you have sent the $49.00 and email me the
MTCN numbers, you are to indicate your wish to receive your funds as I have
stated above and the funds will be released to you without any
hitch.

Here is the western union or money gram information in the name of
my accountant to avoid delay in receiving your fund and remember that I have
done my best for you and I will make sure that your wire will begin to be
released to you from the moment you sent this $49.00.

Send the $49.00
now and send me email with the Western Union MTCN or Money Gram reference
numbers when you send the money , you can as well call me on this number +229-68
39 10 35 when you have sent the money now ok? .

Receivers Name:...
CHUKWUDI GABRIEL ILOCHI
Country:... BENIN REPUBLIC. City:....Cotonou.
Test Question:... God
Answer:...
Bless.
Amount to send: ...$49.00
SEND MTCN NUMBER.... NEEDED

Send
it and email the MTCN number, amount sent, name and address of sender to me for
easy collection and once again remember to reply through this my official email
address TAKE NOTE: REPLY ONLY THROUGH THIS EMAIL: moneygramoffi@live.com

Thanks.
Barr. Mike Benson,
Treasury
Department,
International Wire Transfers,
Federal Ministry of Finance Benin Republic.
Telephone:
+229-68 39 10 35

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam