419 scam: "Mrs.Fafa Tele"<mrsfafatele@rediffmail.com> Attention Beneficiary,

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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "international court of justice" (not involved with lotteries)
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "info.atmoffice.benin@gmail.com" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" 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.
- info.atmoffice.benin@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.Fafa Tele" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ms.telefafa@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 29 Sep 2012 12:29:33 -0700
Subject: Attention Beneficiary,

Attention Beneficiary,

It's our pleasure to inform you that United Nation in West African had a meeting with the Authorities of International Court of Justice concerning scam activaties in African countries such as Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana and Burkina Faso, there report of scam against innocent people worldwide from U.S.A, Asia, Arab and Europ.

Whom the country of Nigeria/Benin Rep, Burkina Faso Ghana and other African Countries mostly West Africans, have decided to compensated you due to meeting held with Four countries Government and the world high commissions against fraud activities by the aboved Countries.

Your name was among those scammed, as listed by the West Africa Financial Intelligent Unit (WAFIU). A compensation of $2.8MILLION USD has been issued out to you which you are to receive through a Certified ATM Visa card that will be delivered your home address and to all the affected victims, which has already been in distribution to all the bearers.

Your name was among those that were reported undelivered as of this moment and we wish to advise you to comply with the instructions of the Committee to make sure you receive your fund through ATM Visa Card delivery without any further delay.

We advise you to do the needful things to make sure the WAFIU delivered your ATM Visa Card, via our reliable Courier Company appointed on before Saturday. You are assured of the safety of this transaction and availability, and be advised that you should stop further contacts with all the fake people and fake security companies, scammers and Bank impostors.

Finally, you are advised to contact the director of payment ATM department Mr.Maxwell Udeme with this email address: (info.atmoffice.benin@gmail.com). On contacting him do provide him with the following informations:

1.Full Name:.........
2.Full Address:......
3.Tel.Number:........
4.Occupation:........
5.Age:...............
6.Sex:...............
7.Country:...........
8.City:..............
9 Valid ID card .....

Yours in Service,
Mrs.Fafa Tele.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam