419 scam: "DR THOMAS WHITE"<recepcion@granatel.com> SEASONS GREETING TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY,

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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:
- "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. )
- "into your nominated bank account" (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 of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "my direct line" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- +22967026033 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "DR THOMAS WHITE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.jame1sentwistle@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 4 May 2015 08:40:34 -0700
Subject: SEASONS GREETING TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY,

**OFFICE OF PRESIDENT DR.YAYI THOMAS BONI,
PRESIDENT & COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES FEDERAL
REPUBLIC OF BENIN***

SEASON’S GREETING TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY,

I AM WRITING TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOUR ACCOUNT DETAILS HAS BEEN PROGRAMMED IN THE BANK’S TELEX ROOM DUE TO THE GLOBAL AND FINANCIAL ECONOMIC MELTDOWN. YOU WERE SELECTED GLOBALLY AS ONE OF THE BENEFICIARIES, THAT IS THE REASON WHY YOU ARE RECEIVING THIS NOTIFICATION, AND WE ARE ONLY TO PAY BENEFICIARIES ONCE THEY MEET UP WITH THEIR FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS FOR IMMEDIATE WIRE TRANSFER INTO THEIR VARIOUS ACCOUNTS.

BUT THE BANK NEED INSURANCE COVERAGE FROM THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE WHICH WILL COST YOU ONLY $2,600 FOR THE BANK TO OBTAIN THE INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE TRANSFER BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY THEY CAN TRANSFER SUCH HUGE AMOUNT OF $28.5 MILLION WITHOUT INSURANCE COVERAGE. MEANWHILE; I HAVE DEPOSITED $1000 WITH THEM TO START THE PROCESSING SO YOU HAVE TO SEND THE BALANCE OF $1,600 IMMEDIATELY YOU FINISH READING THIS
E-MAIL TO COMPLETE THE INSURANCE FEES OF $2,600 TO ENABLE THE BANK TO OBTAIN THE INSURANCE COVERAGE CERTIFICATE TO WIRE YOUR FUNDS INTO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT WITHIN 24HOURS.

THEREFORE, YOU HAVE TO SEND THE REMAINING $1,600 FOR THE INSURANCE COVERAGE FEE IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE THIS E-MAIL AND FORWARD THE MTCN FOR CONFIRMATION AS OTHER DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN SIGNED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WAITING FOR THE INSURANCE COVERAGE FEE FOR YOUR WIRE TRANSFER TO COMMENCE TODAY.

ONCE AGAIN NOTE THE BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS AS STATED BELOW WAS FORWARD BY MR LARRY O. BUSBY TO RECEIVE YOUR PAYMENT SO LET US KNOW AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS E-MAIL IF YOU AUTHORIZED THE BELOW ACCOUNT DETAILS TO RECEIVE YOUR PAYMENT IF NOT THEN FORWARD YOUR BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS WITH YOUR ID IMMEDIATELY AND SEND THE $1,600 SO THAT YOUR FUNDS WILL BE WIRE INTO YOUR ACCOUNT FOR YOUR CONFIRMATION WITHIN 24HOURS.

Bank Name: Citizens Savings Bank
address: 1725 Sullivan Drive : Bogalusa, Louisiana 70427
Account Name: Larry O. Busby
Account Number: 16509551604
Routing Number: 265270138
United State Of America.

MAKE SURE YOU SEND THE $1,600 TODAY BECAUSE I WILL BE IN THE BANK TO ENSURE THAT THE TRANSFER COMMENCES IMMEDIATELY YOU SEND THE REMAINING $1,600 FOR THE INSURANCE COVERAGE FEE AND I WILL FORWARD THE TELEX COPY TO YOU FOR YOUR CONFIRMATION.

I ANTICIPATE YOUR URGENT ACTION ON THIS TO FINALIZE THE TRANSFER OF YOUR FUND ONCE AND FOR ALL.

REGARDS

DR THOMAS WHITE
GOVERNMENT PAYMENT DIRECTOR.
MY DIRECT LINE; +229 67 02 60 33

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam