419 scam: "Mr. Emmanuella Smith" <amato.palumbo@alice.it> FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY (F.C.T.)

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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:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "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. )
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "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: "Mr. Emmanuella Smith" <amato.palumbo@alice.it>
Reply-To: MrEmmanuella1Smith@outlook.com
Date: Wed, 10 Feb 2016 12:49:45 +0100 (CET)
Subject: FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY (F.C.T.)

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
23 HERBERT MARCULARY AVENUE
COTONOU-BENIN REPUBLIC
FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY (F.C.T.)

I am Chief Mr.Emmanuel Smith, a highly placed official officer of the
International Monetary Fund, Cotonou-Benin republic, West Africa (I.M.F.). I
went to the Western Union head office this morning to examine exactly what is
going on about the documents we request from you to enable us permit the
Western Union Office to release the payment to you and Dr. Philip Desmond the
Western Union Operation Manager told me that you refused to follow up their
regulations. Is that true?

I'm a highly placed official officer in I.M.F Office Benin republic and I stand
hereby telling you that they are authorized by above authority to transfer your
funds to you. they are known as Western Union Money Transfer Office (WUMTO). We
are International Monetary Fund unit, Cotonou-Benin republic and we monitor
every transaction in Benin republic.

So, when we discovered that Dr. Philip Desmond wanted to start transferring
payment funds to you we then put everything that they are doing on hold and
asked them to provide you or they will be arrested for money laundering act, so
Dr. Philip Desmond told us that you are in Outside this Country, and it's
difficult for you to come here. So that was reason why we gave you the $55.00
to pay to enable us allow the Western Union, Cotonou- Benin republic to start
transferring the funds to you.

The bill of $55.00 that they asked you to pay is because Dr. Philip said that
you can't be able to trip down here and sign the IMF Tax Certificate and IMF
Insurance Certificate as well, so that was the reason why we gave you the two
option either to pay the $55.00 for we to issue the documents or you come down
here in person and sign the documents with your hands. This $55.00 is just to
enable our Attorney go the Federal High Court, Cotonou- Benin republic so that
the court will approve the documents and endorse it.

Meanwhile; We are looking forward to hearing from you. For more information on
this matter Call: the Audit Authority (+229) 68549509.

Receiver's Name: Ken Nonso
Country: Benin Republic.
City: Cotonou
Text Question: HOW LONG?
Text Answer: TODAY
Amount: $55.00
MTCN Number===
Sender's Name:===

We are looking forward to hear from you.
Thank you.

Director: Chief Mr.Emmanuel Smith
I.M.F. (International Monetary Funds.
Phone:+229 68549509

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam