419 scam: "Mr. Ben Smith" <"www."@vanilla.ocn.ne.jp> YOUR HAVE BEEN AWARDED A SECOND CHANCE IN CLAIMMING YOUR FUNDS

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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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "money gram" (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)
- "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.
MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- +229 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Ben Smith" <"www."@vanilla.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mr. Ben Smith" <mr.bensmith2@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2017 08:51:27 +0900 (JST)
Subject: YOUR HAVE BEEN AWARDED A SECOND CHANCE IN CLAIMMING YOUR FUNDS

UPS office Benin Republic
Company Address: Plot 5, Gov.TNT
Way, Ayaboninsa Avenue,
COTONOU-BENIN

Attention;Beneficiary,

We acknowledge your email regarding your ATM MASTER CARD payment, this office will send you an ATM MASTER CARD in worth of $12.500,000 United State Dollars which has been granted for your payment, we have confirmed your data for the payment so be advised to abide with the instructions so as to enable us complete the normal procedure and send your ATM CARD to you without further delay, be informed that you can make the withdrawal at any ATM MACHINE around you, but we have to activate the ATM CARD here to enable you make use of it immediately it' s delivered to you.

You are required to come over to our office immediately for the completion of the normal formalities for some signatory of documents which you will be required to sign thereafter activate your ATM CARD and issue the Secret Personal Identification Number (PIN) to you to enable you make withdrawal at any ATM MACHINE of your choice nearest to you, If you can' t come to our office in person you will be required to send the Security fee of ($167) to enable us activate your ATM CARD followed by the shipment.

Please note that we can not send the ATM CARD without activating it because you cannot be able to make withdrawal if the ATM MASTER CARD is not activated, this is to enable you make withdrawal as soon as you receive your Card.

Here is your ATM Master Card Number, (4061-7306-0955-1700) meanwhile your Secret Personal Identification Number (PIN) will be giving to you immediately your ATM CARD is activated. Note that you' re the only authorized person to have access to the Secret Pin Code Number to avoid any inconveniences, you are permitted to have a maximum withdrawal value of $5,000.00 daily and you can make withdrawal at any location of the ATM Canter of your choice nearest to you. So if you can' t come down to our office do not hesitate to send your ATM CARD Security fee of ($167), by MONEY GRAM and upon the receipt of the fee we will activate your ATM CARD and send it to you by our affiliated Courier Company for safety delivery to your address .

Here is the Name of our officer in charge of MONEY GRAM TRANSFER send the activation fee through MONEY GRAM with the provided information below to Cotonou Benin Republic;

Receiver ' s Name:- - FELIX IBE
Country:- - Benin Republic.
City- -Cotonou
ZIP CODE - - - 00229
Text Question- - GOD IS
Answer- - -GOOD
Amount- - -$167.00 only
Senders Name- - - - - - -
Reference Number - - - - -

Yours Sincerely Regards,
Mr. Ben Smith
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL (U.N)
Cotonou Benin Republic

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam