419 scam: "Inspector General of Police." <officedhlhead@gmail.com> BENIN POLICE FORCE FRAUD/CONTRACT AND IDENTITY THEFT INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT

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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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Inspector General of Police." <officedhlhead@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "Inspector General of Police." <ofile343@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2015 20:49:55 +0900 (JST)
Subject: BENIN POLICE FORCE FRAUD/CONTRACT AND IDENTITY THEFT INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT

BENIN POLICE FORCE FRAUD/CONTRACT AND IDENTITY THEFT INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE COMMAND FORCE HEADQUARTERS
LOUIS EDET HOUSE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT COTONOU BENIN

Attention,

We received an instruction memo and letter few days ago from the New
York Police Department in America that your consignment box was
freight by UPS diplomat Courier Company was stopped by the United
States Joint Patrol Team in the Transport and Security Administration
Department, the letter also made us to understand that your
consignment box is due for urgent repatriation back to Africa
yesterday. However, as I write you now, and it was returned back to
Africa early hours of today, and was deposited to my station.

This notification letter report is based on the returned of your
consignment box, and you are urgently advice to give urgent attention
to this development.

Well, I have also contacted UPS office headquarters to know why all
these happened and I now understand the reason why the consignment box
has been having problems on transit while in an attempt to reach you,
The problem is very simple, it was because all these while, you guys
never employ a police constable to follow up the delivery with a
Police certified Extract Clearance Report, well, there is one way to
which this box right here could reach you without long stories again,
and that way is first of all, getting a Police Extract of this your
consignment box of $7.4 million USD. Thereafter, I will personally
bring it to your house or assign a Police Constable to escort the
consignment box to your house.

As a member of the Federal Executive Council, I to travel to USA with
President Yayi Bonni of Benin to the Obama's Presidential Inauguration
last Year, assuming your consignment box came to my office earlier
than this; I would have come to the state along with it. Meanwhile,
The cost of getting this consignment to your doorstep is nothing to be
compared to what you had spent before, the only protocol to be
observed is for you to get the Police Extract Clearance Report of the
consignment box, and this clearance certificate shall cost you the sum
of $95and this is the only money you have to pay for the consignment
to get to you.

However, if you can really round and get just only $95 I will help
you with all that processes therein, I will also help you get the
Police Extract and transport the consignment a long side the entourage
of the presidential convoy, though it will be stressful on me, but I
can help you do it if you can send the sum $95 as early as possible
today. I will use the money to settle the pilot and some officials so
that nobody will disturb the movement as we come to meet you in your
house.

Receiver,s Name:______CHRIS OKO
Country:______________Benin Republic
City: ________________Cotonou
Text Question:________Yes
Text Answer:_________Now
Amount:_____________$95
MTCN______________

If you truly want us to bring this consignment to your doorstep then
you have to find this money and send today to above given names so
that I can obtain a Police Extract Clearance that will enhance a
hitch-free delivery to your doorstep and the shipment shall be
delivered on Friday evening at your house, please also re-confirm your
personal home address and ID for easy identification upon arrival, I
shall also need to have your direct telephone number so that I can
call and reach you right from the airport.

1. FULL NAME_______
2. DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER______
3. MOBILE PHONE NUMBER______
7. CURRENT RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS___
8. ID CARD COPY:_____

Best Regards,

Yours Faithfully,
Ronald Howard,
Inspector General of Police.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam