419 scam: "Thomas Olembe" <officed@terra.com.mx> Your Share!

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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:
- "stamp duty" (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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "ups_benin@msn.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- +22999865721 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Thomas Olembe" <officed@terra.com.mx>
Reply-To: ups_benin@msn.com
Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2011 11:41:40 -0400
Subject: Your Share!

Petrochina International Co. LTD (CHINAOIL)
http://www.chinaoil.com.cn/
Dr. Thomas Olembe

Hello dearest friend

I am very happy to inform you about my success in the transfer of the
investment fund to Chinese bank account now i have invested my own part with
Petrolchina International Co. LTD. I did not forget your past effort to
assist me despite the fact that it failed us somehow so I kept some amount
for you in my own appreciation for your compensation. The total sum of
$1,650,000.00 USD ($1.65M USD) which i deposited to the Bank Of Africa has
been uploaded into a Corperate Visa Card and deposited with UPS, Cotonou,
Benin Republic (The Deposit CODE is: BN/270177) on your behalf. The ATM CARD
was packaged with an empty CD to ensure the safety of the content. Now you
should contact UPS and direct them on how to send the package to you.

CONTACT:
Mr. Steven Oloye
UPS BENIN
Email: ups_benin@msn.com
Tel: +229 99865721

For your information, Due to the content of the package, UPS mandated that
before your package will be shipped, A Tax/Stamp Duty MUST be procured
according to the New Customs Creed and the essence of such Document is to
ensure a hitch-free delivery. I am currently in India for a Heart Treatment
and i do know when i will go back to China and again, i can not be able to
send any money out from India besides, am facing some expenses of treating
myself.Therefore email or call the UPS Office in Benin Republic so that they
can deliver your package without any further delay.

My regards to you and your family.

Dr. Thomas Olembe

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam