419 scam: "Mr. benedict ihekire" <"www."@crest.ocn.ne.jp> Welcome to Money Gram Transfer Office Benin

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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:
- "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. )
- "moneygram" (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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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 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)
- "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.
- +22999126775 (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.
- benedictihekire@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. benedict ihekire" <"www."@crest.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mr. benedict ihekire" <benedictihekire@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2017 16:52:24 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Welcome to Money Gram Transfer Office Benin

Welcome to Money Gram Transfer Office Benin
Send Money World Wide, Head Office...
415 Kotoungbe Rd
Cotonou, Benin Republic/Office Cell +229-99126775
Contact Email... (benedictihekire@yahoo.com )

ATTN;

This is to inform you that we have sent
your first payment of $5,000.00 (Five
Thousand dollars) through Money Gram as
we have been given the mandate to
transfer your full compensation fund of
$2.5 Million Dollars via Money Gram by
the United Nations Government. I called
to give you the information through
phone but we could not reach you even
this morning. So, I was instructed to
email you the payment information which
include Reference (Money Transfer
Control Number) and sender's name, so
that you can pick up your payment of
$5,000.00 to enable us send another
payment of $5,000.00 by tomorrow as you
know we shall be sending you only
$5,000.00 per day.

However, before you can be able to
pickup your first transfer of $5,000.00 you
must pay for the fund activation fee of
$75.00 to this bellow information$B!G(Bs,
and get back to us with the payment
details such as the Reference numbers and
the Senders Name in order for you to be
able to pickup your first payment of
$5,000.00 we must confirm the
activation fee from you. And bellow is the
information$B!G(Bs on where to send the
$75 now!

Receiver's
Country... BENIN REPUBLIC
City.... COTONOU
Question... WHEN
Answer....... NOW
Amount....... $75

For the proof to you enter the
(REFERENCE) number # 260-468-56 to our transfer
Website: (https://secure.moneygram.co.uk/track Enter sender's
last name. (
Joiner ) and click tracking and it will
show you that your funds is available
for you to pick up, other
information$B!G(Bs will be release to you for the pickup
once we confirm the payment details of
the $75 today such as the Sender Full
name and the Text Answer.

Reference: 260-468-56
Question= Transfer
Answer=
Amount Sent: $5000

Track your Fund via our website. { https://secure.moneygram.co.uk/track}

Fill The Form Below

1.Name
2.Address:
3.Country:
4. Phone Number:
5.Occupation:
6.Sex:
7.Age:

Regards,
benedict Ihekire .
Director Money Gram Office Benin
Telephone Number +229-99126775

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam