419 scam: FRAUD INVESTIGATION DEPT <desk.desk@btinternet.com> /// URGENT FROM INTERNATIONAL MONETARY AGENCY 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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- ",500,000" (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 dollar" (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.
- +22998574399 (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.
- ppa_verification_dept_bj@tlen.pl (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: FRAUD INVESTIGATION DEPT <desk.desk@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: ppa_verification_dept_bj@tlen.pl
Date: Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:20:08 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: /// URGENT FROM INTERNATIONAL MONETARY AGENCY BENIN////

/// URGENT FROM INTERNATIONAL MONETARY AGENCY BENIN////

DEAR VICTIMS,

This is the Office of the Federal Bureau Of Investigation Benin-Republic Monetary Center, We the (IMF) Received a signal of all the Victims from the Scammers in all West Africa and also your past lost of huge amount of money for past years all about. After going through our file we have to hand over your file to the America Government that are Compensating all the people that have fall in Victim in West Africa.

Therefore the report we got from the American Government is that you are to be Compensate with the amount of (ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLAR) ($1,500,000USD) Thought you might have spent less or more than that given amount, But with due respect we are apologizing to you to kindly accept this offer as part of the Government Compensating all the Victim over their Lost money.

Dear Victim: At this moment we have gotten an approval from the Ministry Of Finance Dr Mark Padonou to start the transfer immediately. Be inform that we have started working with Bank Of Africa (B.O.A) All Victim file has been sent to the BOA DEPARTMENT FOR PAYMENT.

Some two white men came to claim of your fund, That they are your relative that you are died and you make them to be your next of kin, that is why this department is mailing you to know if it is real or not. So therefore if you are you are still alive, mail us back for the confirmation that you are still alive to claim of your fund. Which is the sum of $1.500, 000 USD?

Your payment Instrument has been passed to the Bank Of Africa (B.O.A) to start transferring your onward sum amount of ($1,500,000USD) Into your Bank Account of your Choice, For more Explanation you are therefore advice to contact the Banker In charge below with the below details and make your own statement for the next step.

1: YOUR FULL NAME:

2: YOUR HOME ADDRESS:

3: YOUR COUNTRY:

4: YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE NUMBER:

5 A COPY OF YOUR PASSPORT:

6. YOUR AGE

7. OCCUPATION:

The DESK TRANSFER SECTION:

FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPT

BANK OF AFRICA- BENIN REPUBLIC

Contact Person,

ATTN: DR. CHEIK TIDIANCE N'DIAYE.

TROIS BANQUES, 01 BP 1560 -COTONOU

TEL: +229 98 57 43 99 / FAX: +229 21 33 73 35

EMAIL:ppa_verification_dept_bj@tlen.pl

NB

KINDLY PLEASE CONTACT THE BANK EMAIL ADDRESS WITH YOUR DETAILS, ALONG WITH YOUR BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION.BANK EMAIL:ppa_verification_dept_bj@tlen.pl

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam