419 scam: "scott" <scott@montgomeryprint.com> UNITED BANK FOR AFRICAN 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:

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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "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 states 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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "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.
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.
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.
- +22998977544 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- unitedbankofafrican1010@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "scott" <scott@montgomeryprint.com>
Reply-To: unitedbankofafrican1010@yahoo.fr
Date: Sun, 22 Dec 2013 05:58:32 -0400
Subject: UNITED BANK FOR AFRICAN BENIN REPUBLIC

UNITED BANK FOR AFRICAN BENIN REPUBLIC
Avenue Cotonou, BP 325 Cotonou Benin Republic.
Telex : 5211 BCEAO COTONOU, .
DATE:21/12/2013,

______________________________ ______________________________ ___________________
From the desk of ,Mr.Tom West Western union
       Payment Department Benin Republic (unitedbankofafrican1010@yahoo.fr)
.

                RE: APPROVAL OF YOUR WIRE TRANSFER VALUED USD$1. 500.000.00( ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) ONLY.
Attn my Dear

My name is Tom West directed from USA. to Ghana/Togo Western Union Branch Manager, now resident in Cotonou Benin Republic. I am a citizen of U.S.A. am here now because of the scammers information all over in Africa mostly in Nigeria and Cotonou Benin Republic to make sure that all the belongings funds get to their foreign beneficiaries, which i sent you an e-mail since two days ago and i have not had back from you, what is going on my dear, are you still alive or not.
Congratulation to you regarding your fund of $1.5m dollars in the western union computer system and has the western union controller general i have just prepare for you your first 10 mtcn of $7,000usd, and i have just activated names into your 10 mtcn of $7,000usd for you to cash it immediately today so you make sure you send the remittance fee of $58 usd to the Western Union secretary to Cotonou Benin Republic,
Immediately you send it you send the information to my mailbox and you make sure you wait at the western union office in less than 30 minutes your complete 10 mtcn of $7,000 payment information will be release to you today.
Note:Beneficiary, your money is been protected by a insurance policy, which makes it impossible for we to deduct any amount from the money before it has been remitted to you.
This means that the above charges cannot be deducted from the $7,000usd and hence must be provided by you. Below are your 10 mtcn information which i have activated your name into and has for the 10 mtcn i only gave you 8 digit but immediately you send the remittance fee, in less than 30 minutes your complete 10 digit will be release to you right inside the western union office.
(1)
SENDER: TOM WEST
AMOUNT: $7,000 USD
QUESTION: CODE
ANSWER: TRUST
M.T.C.N: 129 054 23**
(2)
SENDER: TOM WEST
AMOUNT: $7,000 USD
QUESTION: CODE
ANSWER: TRUST
M.T.C.N: 949 057 78**
(3)
SENDER: TOM WEST
AMOUNT: $7,000 USD
QUESTION: CODE
ANSWER: TRUST
M.T.C.N: 445 353 12**
(4)
SENDER: TOM WEST
AMOUNT: $7,000 USD
QUESTION: CODE
ANSWER: TRUST
M.T.C.N: 577 644 33**
(5)
SENDER: TOM WEST
AMOUNT: $7,000 USD
QUESTION: CODE
ANSWER: TRUST
M.T.C.N: 885 053 00**
(6)
SENDER: TOM WEST
AMOUNT: $7,000 USD
QUESTION: CODE
ANSWER: TRUST
M.T.C.N:133 070 66**
(7)
SENDER: TOM WEST
AMOUNT: $7,000 USD
QUESTION: CODE
ANSWER: TRUST
M.T.C.N: 414 600 81**
(8)
SENDER: TOM WEST
AMOUNT: $7,000 USD
QUESTION: CODE
ANSWER: TRUST
M.T.C.N: 778 133 72**
(9)
SENDER: TOM WEST
AMOUNT: $7,000 USD
QUESTION: CODE
ANSWER: TRUST
M.T.C.N: 753 700 22**
(10)
SENDER: TOM WEST
AMOUNT: $7,000 USD
QUESTION: CODE
ANSWER: TRUST
M.T.C.N: 662 004 17**
Dear Beneficiary, You are to send the remittance fee as from $58usd through western union money transfer to the western union secretary to Cotonou Benin Republic please make sure you send it today because i am right in my office waiting for you to make payment so that you can cash your $7,000usd today.
WESTERN UNION SECRETARY FOR YOU TO MAKE PAYMENT TODAY AND HERE IS OUR PAYMENT INFORMATION WHERE YOU HAVE TO SEND THE NEEDED FEE TO:

       RECEIVE NAME:::: Jeff    Nwaigbo
City::::::::::::::: Cotonou
Country::::::: Republic of Benin
Test Question:::::::::::::: CODE
Answer:::::::::::::::::: TRUST
Amount:::::::::::::: $58
MTCN:::::::::::::
Senders Name :::::::::::::

Dear Beneficiary, Your 10 mtcn of $7,000 is showing available for pick up by you the receiver so please don't fail to send the remittance fee of $58usd immediately.

Waiting for your immediate respond through our below e-mail(unitedbankofafrican1010@yahoo.fr) or you can call us on this number below +229-98977544 if their is any thing you need to fine out and be rest assure that i will surely make you happy today.
Am waiting to hear from you as soon as possible once you send the payment on the above information
We trust God.
We are waiting for your information today .

Yours Sincerly ,
Mr. Tom West
Western union ,
Payment Department
Cotonou Republic Du Benin.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam