419 scam: "Mrs. Victoria Crawford." <officebenie@gmail.com> PAYMENT CODE NUMBER (34923321)

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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:
- "western union" (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. )
- "moneygram" (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
- "moneygram103@yahoo.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "moneygram103@yahoo.cn" (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.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- +229 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Victoria Crawford." <officebenie@gmail.com>
Reply-To: moneygram103@yahoo.cn
Date: Mon, 5 Nov 2012 20:18:16 -0500 (EST)
Subject: PAYMENT CODE NUMBER (34923321)

Attention beneficiary,

we are here to notify you that after the meeting held on July 18/ 2012.
The ministry of finance and his excellence the president of federal
republic of Benin Dr Yayi Bonii. Has instructed this department to send
your funds through money gram remitting office transfer world wide, For
easier receive of your inherited funds without any further delay. Since
you was unable to receive your money through western union /Banks due to
their management but now we have sent your full compensation payment of
$6.500.000.00usd to you through money gram ok.

You will be receiving 10.000.00usd per day, but we want you to contact the
management in money gram right now, to avoid paying money to the fraud
stars that is going on through the world because we have arranged your
payment of ($6.500.000.00usd) six millions five hundred thousand united
state dollars, to be sent to you today through money gram tran sfer
payment. Your payment will send to you by money gram,

for your information the director of administrator trust funds have
already signed your payment, now you are free to comply with money gram
payment office on this email( moneygram103@yahoo.cn) however, kindly
contact the below person who is in position to release your payment by
money gram. Per day (10.000 used). Vital finance bank money gram transfer
department. Location address; plot 1261, Eolande Hopewell street co/b/rep,
email address ( moneygram103@yahoo.cn)The financial money gram payment
canter has been mandated to issue out your payment and you have to stop
any further communication with any other person(s) or office(s) to avoid
any hitches in receiving your payment,

So be advice to contact them immediately you get this email now because
every thing has been done ok. and for your information once again note:
that this is not one of tho se Nigerian African scams that all they are
after is to ripe you off your money and at the end you will not receive
your funds, but note that this is no scam and is directly from the our
president of federal republic of Benin Dr Yayi Bonni Office to serve you
better.

Rev. Godwin Robert
Telephone no +229_98431647
MINISTRY FEDERAL REPUBLIC

You’re name....................................................
Country.....................................................
City....................................................
Office Phone no...........................................
Home phone no.....................................
Home Address/......................................
Age/sex...........................................
Id card................................................
Occupation...................................

Note, Call this Telephone no +229_98431647 immediately to have yo ur MTCN
of $10.000.or email him now so that he can provide the money gram
information to you as urgent as you can. Also do let me know immediately
they have started sending your money, but try to comply with them to
enable them serve you better.
Thanks and god bless.
Sender Name.
Mrs. Victoria Crawford.

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