419 scam: "Mrs. Jane Philips" <helpdesk@inpa.gov.br> Dear Beneficiary

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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "el gordo " (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
- " lotto international " (no such lottery exists)
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "deadline" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
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.
- +22961381480 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- sb.oilgascompany@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Jane Philips" <helpdesk@inpa.gov.br>
Reply-To: sb.oilgascompany@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 3 May 2017 09:08:37 -0400
Subject: Dear Beneficiary

From:International Award Dept.
Reference number: ADJ444088/09
Batch number: 78400/175

Attention:Winner,

FINAL AWARD WINNING PRIZE NOTIFICATION

We are pleased to inform you, the beneficiary whose name is on
this Email, about the release of the awaited delayed result, of our
international promotion sweepstakes program held on 12th January,
2017. The results were released on the 28 April, 2017. This program was
designed to promote and encourage international participation in our high
stake new year Benin Republic Sweepstakes.(EL GORDO LOTTO INTERNATIONAL
SWEEPSTAKES) Names entered in the program were presented by
ANDALUCIA VISTA S.A in conjunction with a group of philanthropist,
humanitarian organisations, and also with the help of chambers of
commerce and lndustries and countries high commission in Benin
Republic. Using a computer balloting selection system from all names
submitted for the program, your name with ticket number 76.494 won in the
3rd category, and was awarded the sum of 815,616 USD EIGHT HUNDRED
AND FIFTEEN THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN DOLLARS), Your security
file number for your winning claim is EO/2017/0018IM.

For advice to begin your claims, please contact your claims agent MR
KELVIN ANOS the Foreign Operation manager of SOCIETE BENINOISE OIL AND GAS
COMPANY COTONOU.

CALL YOUR AGENT Tel +22961381480 , Fax: +229911881303
EMAIL:sb.oilgascompany@gmail.com
for all necessary verifications before transfer can be effected.

Winnings must be insured to the original value, to avoid any unexpected
situation. The insurance bond certificate should be presented by your
agent to our desk, before winning funds will be released to the
official bank in Benin Republic for onward transfer to you,after
verification proves you are the true beneficiary of winnings under
Security File Number: EO/2017/0018IM.

The deadline for this claim is 15th May, 2017. After this date,
unclaimed winnings will be returned to the Benin Republic Economic
Ministry, and late entry penalty requirements must be met before
late entry claims can be considered. Also be informed that 5% (Five
percent) of your prize money belongs to SOCIETE BENINOISE OIL AND GAS
COMPANY COTONOU. The 5% will be remitted after you have received your
winning prize. In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications,
please remember to quote your reference and Batch number in every of your
correspondence with your agent,

All correspondence must be directed to your authorized and registered
claims agent: SOCIETE BENINOISE OIL AND GAS COMPANY COTONOU.

Yours Sincerely,
Mrs. Jane Philips
Vice President
SOCIETE BENINOISE
OIL AND GAS COMPANY

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam