419 scam: "Mrs. Grace Ibeh" <officialu7@gmail.com> Esteems Sir/Madam

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",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)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
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.
- officialuser@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Grace Ibeh" <officialu7@gmail.com>
Reply-To: officialuser@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:49:15 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Esteems Sir/Madam

Esteems Sir/Madam

This is to informed you that the management Bank PHB, are hereby from the desk of Dr, Brown Young, to keep you validate about the latest devolvement due your total sum of $15, 000, 000, 00, (Fifteen Millions United States of America Dollars Only) has been approve today, from Benin Republic, Federal Ministry of Justice, mean you are free to receive the total sum of $15, 000, 000, 00.

The Government as prescribed by the constitution of the Country is the responsibility of the Federal Ministry of Finance to handle all foreign arias/debts, The board of Federal Ministry of Finance Benin Republic are hereby to notify your payment inherited funds of (US$15,000.000,00)USD ,After the meeting held on your behalf with His Excellence the PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN with instructed Department Bank PHB to send your funds to you through ATM MASTER CARD ,for easier receive of your inherited funds without any further delay.

So you adhere strictly to contact Payment Office right now with this address ( officialuser@yahoo.com.hk ) to start processing your payment immediately,listen,bear it in mind that you will send them total sum of $100,00,right now, through reference name,Mrs,Sandy Miller, for processing charges fee, further more, forward them all the information that you will use to receive your fund total sum of $15,000,000,00,

Receiver's Name:________
Receiverâ€™s Address:______
Your Country:__________
Your city _____________
Tell Number:__________

Regards
Mrs. Grace Ibeh

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam