419 scam: "Mrs. Carolina D. Mark"<usahighcommissionbenin@yahoo.co.uk> FROM THE USA HIGH COMMISSION

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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)
- "million 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)
- "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.
- highcommissionu@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Carolina D. Mark" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <highcommissionu@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2012 10:43:44 +0700
Subject: FROM THE USA HIGH COMMISSION

Attn Beneficiary,

This message is directly from the Desk of Secretary to the United States of America High Commission Cotonou Benin Republic. We are writing to notify you that African Union (AU) after series of meetings held in Ethopia on the 1st of August. 2012 concluded finally to pay you the accrued interest of your fund Usd 30M which was with Bank of America for over three years period.

The origin of that fund was from a African country (Contract /Inheritance payment), transfered in your name / account for further wire transfer but along the line, you were not able to meet up with the request of the Government of the country which resulted to the return of the fund back to its country of origin.

Well our reason for writing you is to inform you that, the Accrued Interest is $3,000.000.00 (THREE MILLION DOLLARS ONLY) and this High Commission of the united states in Benin Republic has been mandated to pass accross this circular to you to come up for quick CLAIM of this amount.

Payment will be effected to you immediately through Benin Republic under the supervision of this USA High Commission in Benin as AU decided in Ethopia after their meeting. This Interest however was not returned with the Principal amount, Its a different amount all together,. We ve made investigations through the United States Embassey in all African States & found out that you ve not received anything since then as African Union (AU) confirmed also. Contact us, Call on phone 00 229 67 37 30 65

Out of Pity, we decided to write you to come up for claim of this interest ($3,000,000.00) immediately, since this interest accumulated when the principal amount was in your name. AU has concluded that this amount MUST strictly be paid to you without further delay through this USA High commission in Benin Republic , no other quarters. Requirements for this payment to you

i) Forward us, your receiving bank account information immediately ii)Bank name, Bank address, Swift Codes, Account name & account numbers. Copy of your Identification , required also .iii)Send us also your address in your country . And your direct mobile phone number.

Note further, State to us your receiving account information clearly by email, write everything in BLOCK CAPITALS exactly as stated above. We hope everything is very Clear to you? Thanks for your understanding and corporation
This is the United States of America High Commission Benin Republic.

Your immediate response will be of great advantage to you. Be sure of this payment through this High Commission of the united States in Benin Republic, as Mandated by the African Union (AU). Be informed . We are await your responses.

Sincerely

Mrs. Carolina D. Mark, For U S A High Commission,
American Embassy Cotonou Benin Republic.
Email: highcommissionu@aol.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam