419 scam: FOrm general police <richardharry0101@gmail.com> My name is Mr. Joseph B. the Inspector General of Police Benin Republic,

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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "consignment " (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)
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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 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.
- police_generalof@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: FOrm general police <richardharry0101@gmail.com>
Reply-To: police_generalof@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2011 23:11:09 +0530 (IST)
Subject: My name is Mr. Joseph B. the Inspector General of Police Benin Republic,

FROM HEAD
QUARTER POLICE
STATION
ZOGBO COTONOU
INSPECTOR GENERAL OF
POLICE BENIN REPUBLIC WEST AFRICA. E-MAIL/(
police_generalof@yahoo.com.hk
)
Attention;

My name is Mr. Joseph B. the Inspector
General of Police Benin
Republic,This is to inform you that the government of this country Benin
Republic are sending you the sum of ($10,000,000.00 USD) Five Hundred
Thousand US Dollars which you have lost in before because you have been waiting
to receive it from Mr.
John Adam . We got him arrested today because he did not follow the
instruction given to him by Federal Government of Benin republic. The government
is rewarding this funds as one of the scam victim. We got your email through
those that extort money from you when the police got them arrested , One of them
gave us your email address.

The president of this country His Excellency
Mr.Yayi Boni has sent aside the sum of ($10,000,000.00 USD) in consignment to
send to you through Dhl Courier Company. We thereby have made a concrete
arrangement with the DHL Courier Company for a safe delivery to your door-step
once the beneficiary meets up the demand of the conveyance. Note that all the
delivery fee has been paid on your behalf but you are advise to send only
$97,00 dollar immediately to our office for your clearance certificate because
our agent will proceed to Du'Benin High Court first thing tomorrow morning so
that he should get the certificate before your consignment will leave this
country.

The DHL Courier agent will use the certificate to obtain the
transaction. So you advice to confirm your information immediately for delivery
of your consignment and also to enable our office confirm that you are the real
owner of this Emaill address to avoid any mistake. If you know that you are not
the owner of this consignment box don't try to contact because if you dare you
will be arrested like those people below.

Your Full Name.......
Your
Country........
Your City............
Your Telephone
Number.........
The Amount You Lost..........
Your
Passport..........................
Below is where you can send the $97.00
to our protocol officer.

Receiver's Name.....Alexander
Nneluo,
Country...............Benin Republic
City...............Cotonou

Text Question..........Thank
Answer.............God
Amount. $97,00

Your senders
name.................
Mtcn.....................................

Here are the SCAMMERS that were
arrested, Mr Brown John. Mr.Kevin C, Mr. Patrick Mike,Mr.John C, Dr. Frank Agu
and others is here now

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam