419 scam: "MR.MARK BEN" <ecobank487@yahoo.pt> IMF OFFICE

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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "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.
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.
- officeimf82@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR.MARK BEN" <ecobank487@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: "MR.MARK BEN" <officeimf82@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 11:07:48 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: IMF OFFICE

Â INTERNATIONAL MONITARY FUND BENIN REPUBLIC(IMF).INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND(IMF)AFRICA REGIONAL OFFICE BENINEMAIL(officeimf82@yahoo.com )Â Â Good morning my dear, How are you doing? hope you are fine Â glory be to God. Secondly, this massage is from international Monetary funds Unit (I.M.F) cotonu Branch Republic of Benin, we write to remind you as the beneficiary of the said funds Four million five hundred thousand united state dollar ($4.5m)that we are still waiting to confirm the payment of Â $180 to enable us issue the vital documents that will accompany the delivery of your bank draft for security reasons.Â May I humbly request for your opinion regarding the cancellation plans of your contract payment of ($4.5m)USD. What is the rationale behind your decision to abandon your funds after it has been approved and program on behalf, in Judicial council who prompted this inquiry, I wish to categorically exonerate this office from any blame if this fund been cancelled by Nov Â 26st 2014 as already planned by CBN:Â Your silence is creating a very dangerous situation here. As at Friday last week, I got a report from Dr. Godwin Nelson The PAYMASTER GENERAL CBN to prepared for the cancellation of your fund since you fail to comply on transfer instructed, With due respect to our security ethics, please why you didn't want your fund to transferred any more?Â My name MR.MARK BEN department of (I.M.F)Republic of Benin and I am the one in-charge to make the transfer of your fund to you, we have started making the foreign transfer since four days now, all the listed beneficiaries out side has been paid.Â I know it is because of your past experience that make you not to believe me please just drop your old experience and follow my instruction to know if am telling you the truth Â or not? I swear to God almighty Father. If I fail to deliver you bank draft within 48hours after you send the Â $180 as I promise let God Take my life, because my bible says what shall it profit a man to gain material things and loose his soul. how can I swear against my life because of this small amount, it is to show you that I am telling you the truth?Â However we are still waiting for you to send fee of Â $180 to enable us obtain the required Â (I.M.F) clearance Certificate, on your behalf as your data Â shows that you are a honest and respectable person in the society. You have to send the fees to (I.M.F) over there in Benin within 2days from now.Â FINALY BELOW IS THE INFORMATION WHERE TO SEND THE FEEÂ Receivers Name: GODWIN OBIORAHCountry: Benin RepublicCity: Â Â : CotonouText Question: In GodText Answer: We TrustAmount: $180Usd.Â Make sure you confirm the receipt of this mail today and mail back before closing of office.Â YOURS IN SERVICEMR. MARK BENINTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)AFRICA REGIONAL OFFICE BENIN+22968484078Â

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam