419 scam: "MAIL POST OFFICE -COTONOU BENIN REP"<wm91044@gmail.com> ATTN; PLEASE 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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "million 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)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "MAIL POST OFFICE -COTONOU BENIN REP" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <postofficecotonoubeninrep@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 14 Sep 2014 12:35:52 +0200
Subject: ATTN; PLEASE SIR/ MADAM,

Post Office -Cotonou Benin Rep.
Address: 20/22 Hospital Route
Cotonou Benin Republic
Phone (+229) 98913791

ATTN; PLEASE SIR/ MADAM,

THIS IS TO OFFICIALLY INFORM YOU THAT THERE IS (ATM CARD) IN OUR DEPARTMENT, DEPOSITED BY A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION ON FRIDAY 8TH OF AUGUST 2014. YOUR E-MAIL AND POSTAL ADDRESS WAS ATTACHED TO IT AND IS TO BE POST TO YOU ACCORDING TO THE DEPOSITOR’S INSTRUCTION. HOWEVER, WE ARE WAITING FOR YOU TO CONTACT US BACK RIGHT AWAY FOR THE CONFIRMATION AND AWARENESS OF YOUR VALID ATM CARD WORTH OF $5.5 MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS, ALL THE NECESSARY AND VITAL DOCUMENTS THAT VALIDATE THE USE AND PRIVACY OF YOUR ATM CARD IS ALREADY INTACT. KINDLY PERSONALLY GET BACK TO US UPON RECEIVING OF THIS ALERT AS TO PREVENT FRAUDULENT PENETRATION.

YOU ARE TO RE-CONFIRM AND PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING LISTED DETAILS FOR CROSS CHECKING AND CONFIRMATION.

FULL NAME..........
COUNTRY.............
POSTAL ADDRESS.....
DIRECT PHONE.........

NOTE: THAT OFFICIAL DUTY STAMP OF 74.00 EUROS IS TO BE PAID/HANDLE BY YOU AND YOU PERSONALLY. YOU ARE ADVISE TO SEND 74.00 EUROS FOR THE PLACEMENT OF THE OFFICIAL DUTY STAMP FOR IMMEDIATE EXIST OF YOUR ATM CARD TO YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS, THE 74.00 EUROS IS TO BE SEND THROUGH (MONEY GRAM)OR WESTERN UNION WITH THE DIRECTOR'S NAME AND DETAILS AS LISTED UNDER AND THEN FORWARD THE PAYMENT DETAILS AS TO ENABLE THE AUTHORITY IN CHARGE/COMMAND PLACE THE OFFICIAL DUTY STAMP FOR INSTANT EXIT OF YOUR ATM CARD FROM THIS OFFICE TO YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS AS COMMANDED AND INSTRUCTED WITHOUT DELAYING.

Receiver Name...... EMMA ODILI
City............. Cotonou
Country..... Benin Republic
Question....Code
Answer..... 229
AMOUNT......74.00 EUROS
Mtcn...........?
Sender........?

I WILL BE ON LOOK OUT IN HEARING BACK FROM YOU SOONEST, FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTION AND DIRECTIVE AS IT WAS GIVEN AND COMMANDED THE ZONAL DIRECTOR OF AREA EIGHT (8).

SINCERELY,
ALBERT K. JUJU
Phone (+229) 98913791

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam