419 scam: Secretary James Moore <"ww."@vanilla.ocn.ne.jp> Attention:Dear Friend,

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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "million united states dollars" (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)
- "you are advice to " (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.
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.
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.
- +22995016910 (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.
- hisexcellencypatriceton201@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Secretary James Moore <"ww."@vanilla.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Secretary James Moore <hisexcellencypatriceton201@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 27 Jul 2017 23:17:47 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attention:Dear Friend,

Attention:Dear Friend,

Complements, I am the new president of Republic Due Benin His Excellency Mr Patrice Talon by name, Presidential elections were held in Benin on 6 March 2016,having been delayed by one week due to logistical constraints.(1)The then Incumbent President Thomas Boni Yayi was at the end of his second presidential terms and was constitutionally barred from running for a third term. The elections grabbed the interest of many of the country's top men, resulting in over 30 candidates running for the presidency.(2) A second round was held on 29 May,(3) in which I defeated Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou. I am actually writing this message to inform you that after the meeting held in my office day on the 25th of July 2017 which consist between the United States Embassy and the United Nations, after receiving many complaints that many was scammed from Benin and other African Countries, we concluded that you will receive your funds as promise and the total amount you are entitled to be receive is total sum of $1.5 Million United States Dollars. However I'm pleading with all scammed affected victims that has been scammed due to one reason or the other and for anything would be compensated back and no matter your country or continent, AFRICA, ASIA PACIFIC, ENGLAND, EUROPE,AMERICA ETC. All scammed person(s) would be compensated and would be sent their compensation funds successful without any hitch.

Furthermore, every client and beneficiaries would be sending their compensation funds each. And this fund sum of $1.5 Million United States Dollars has been coded into an ATM Visa Cash Card meanwhile I have made a concrete arrangement with the DHL Courier Company for a safe delivery to your door-step once the beneficiary meets up the demand for conveyance. I advise that you do the needful to make sure that DHL Company endorse your delivery as soon as possible, perhaps, then your funds was on held already requesting for International Organization of Securities Commissions,Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and (IMF) International Monetary Fund Department , U.S Department of Justice Approval Letter which I have settled everything with them. Now the only money that would be involved in this would be the delivery fee of your ATM Visa Card sum of $95 each and this would be the only fee that would be paid by every beneficiary of the funds. Moreover,there will be no C.O.D in this stated method of payment and every beneficiary has just from now till the 5th of next month to comply and correspond with this office respectively. Finally you are advice to stop any further communication from whose ever is contacting you about your funds. Any email you received forward it to me for proper investigation by FBI Investigation Authority US/Benin because I was elected to flight against Fraudulent activities in Benin And corruption in the West African States and Other Countries as well.

You are instruct to send the fee via Money Gram or western union with below Info herein.

First name: ...JOHN
Last name: .... FRED
City:.......... COTONOU
Country: ...... BENIN
Amount:...... $150
Senders Name......
Senders Country........

Regards
His Excellency Mr. Patrice Talon
President Republic du Benin
Office Cell... +22995016910
Contact E-MAIL: (hisexcellencypatriceton201@gmail.com)

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