419 scam: "Mr.Jim Ovia" <grammaberry@sbcglobal.net> My Dear Friend,My Dear Friend,Please Read Carefully And Get Back To Me.

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will give you 35% " (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)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
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.
- +22998344980 (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.
- mrjimovia01@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Jim Ovia" <grammaberry@sbcglobal.net>
Reply-To: mrjimovia01@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 2010 01:27:05 -0800 (PST)
Subject: My Dear Friend,My Dear Friend,Please Read Carefully And Get Back To Me.

My Dear Friend,

Compliment of the new Year, My name is Mr Jim Ovia I am the Managing Director with Fortisbank Benin, I am 54 yrs old man, I have occupied this position for the past 13yrs.The reason I contacted you is thus:In my bank, we have a customer who based here in Cotonou with his entire family, has been banking with our bank for the past 9yrs, he was an oil Exporter with the Benin National Petroleum Corporation [BNPC].

Suddenly, he was driving home with his wife and two kids, their car ran into a Trailer load of wood at PORT NOVO-PARAKOU Express high way, their car got burnt that no soul survived in the accident, he died with his entire family, their bodies was buried at benin Cemetery on the 18th of August 2003, his pictures was advertised all over the TV Stations.

Sir, this our customer deposited ($15 000 000 00)US$fifteen million United state of American Dollars with our bank, and since his death, our officials has tried their possible means of reaching his family members or his distant relatives to come and claim his money, but they were no where to be found, our bank officials has sent a massage to his Embassy to help us locate any of his family members to come and claim his money from our bank but till date,his Ambassador where not able to locate his family members.

Right now our bank has mandated that by the end of this year, if none of his family members or his relatives come for the claiming of his funds, the bank will be trading/importing Goods from his account, which means our bank will be using his money for turnover.

Sir, the reason I contacted you is thus: I want you to assist me receive this money into your account abroad, I only want you to stand as the far distant relative to our late customer, on this note, you will only write an application letter to our bank requesting the funds to be wired into your account as the next of Kin to our late Customer who died in Auto Accident. As soon as the funds are wired into your account.

i will give you 35% for assisting me while 60% is for me while 5% is map out for any expenses.you will be the one to provide account which will be use to transfer the funds into your account. pls forward your telephone and fax number to me for easier communication.

Remain bless,
Mr Jim Ovia,
Managing Director Fortisbank Benin.
Tel: 00229-98-34-49-80.
E-MAIL (mrjimovia01@hotmail.com)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam